India's heavy defeat in the Guwahati Test against South Africa has reignited the debate around Virat Kohli's decision to quit Test cricket, with former India cricketer Sreevats Goswami claiming the star batter retired from the wrong format.
South Africa tightened their grip on the final Test at the Barsapara Stadium by first racking up 489 in their first innings, thanks to Senuran Muthusamy's maiden Test hundred and a blistering 91-ball 93 from No. 9 Marco Jansen. Jansen then destroyed India's reply with figures of 6 for 48 as the hosts were bowled out for 201, leaving them facing the prospect of a second home Test whitewash in as many years.
Despite a commanding 288-run lead, South Africa chose not to enforce the follow-on and went to stumps
on Day 3 at 26 for no loss, stretching their overall lead to 314 after having already won the Kolkata opener by 30 runs. The visitors are now on the verge of only their second Test series triumph in India, their previous success coming back in 2000.
The collapse prompted Goswami to post on X that Virat Kohli should have remained a Test cricketer instead of continuing in ODIs.
"Ideally, Virat should have left playing ODIs & continued playing test cricket untill he had nothing to give. Test cricket misses him. Not just as a player but just the energy he brought, the love & passion playing for 🇮🇳 where he made the team believe that they can win in any condition," Goswami wrote.
He further lamented what he sees as a dip in India's intensity without Kohli at the helm in the longest format, saying, "The winning mentality & that fire which was there under Virat Kohli feels missing in this team. "
