Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has said that if Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli indeed want to come back and play Tests, as certain rumours online suggest, they should be given the leeway to do so, since the survival of the longest format is a massive point of discussion at the moment.
After India’s 0-2 home series loss to South Africa, rumours have emerged suggesting that the BCCI might ask Rohit and Kohli to come out of Test retirement. Amidst the buzz, Pietersen weighed in, stating that the board should take the proposition seriously.
Pietersen noted that having Rohit and Kohli back is crucial for the future of Tests in India.
“I don’t always believe what I read in the media or on social media. But, if it’s half true that both Virat and
Rohit are considering playing Test cricket again, then it needs to be taken very, very seriously. The survival of Test cricket is a hot topic of conversation and if the biggest stars in the game want to play it again, they must play,” Pietersen tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has quashed the rumours, confirming that no talks with Rohit or Kohli have taken place. The duo had announced their retirements in May, ahead of the England tour, with their final series being in Australia, where India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1.
India’s recent Test struggles have reignited fan discussions about a potential return for Rohit and Kohli. For the first time since 1984-85, India has lost consecutive series, having been whitewashed 0-3 by New Zealand in October-November 2024 and now defeated 0-2 by South Africa.
