IND vs AUS: Sunil Gavaskar dismisses all the Virat Kohli retirement rumours

Back-to-back ducks in Perth and Adelaide have reignited discussions about Virat Kohli’s possible retirement from One Day Internationals. The speculation grew stronger after the Indian batting superstar was seen acknowledging the Adelaide crowd with a heartfelt gesture following his dismissal on Thursday. As he walked back to the pavilion, Kohli raised his hand in gratitude, prompting fans to wonder if it was a subtle farewell to the format he has dominated for over a decade. Social media quickly lit up with theories that this might be the final time the modern great dons the Indian jersey in ODIs.

Sunil Gavaskar opens up on Virat Kohli retirement rumours

However, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has brushed aside such talk, insisting that Kohli is far from done. Gavaskar pointed out that the 35-year-old’s competitive spirit and hunger for runs make it unlikely for him to step away, especially after two rare failures—the first time in his career he has recorded consecutive ducks in ODIs. According to Gavaskar, Kohli’s professionalism and pride in performance would drive him to return stronger rather than walk away on a low. For now, the cricketing world waits to see whether Adelaide was merely an off day—or the beginning of a new chapter in Kohli’s remarkable journey.

In a recent interview, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar praised Virat Kohli’s remarkable consistency and record-breaking achievements across formats, describing his numbers as nothing short of extraordinary. Gavaskar highlighted how Kohli’s discipline, fitness, and hunger for runs have kept him at the top of world cricket for over a decade. Addressing the ongoing debate surrounding Kohli’s future, Gavaskar dismissed any speculation about an imminent retirement, expressing confidence that the star batter still has several impactful years ahead of him.

He further added that both Kohli and current India captain Rohit Sharma are likely to remain integral parts of the national setup until at least the 2027 World Cup. Gavaskar believes their experience and leadership will be invaluable in guiding the next generation of Indian cricketers. For him, the duo’s passion for representing India continues to burn bright, ensuring that they will remain key figures in the team’s future plans.

"Look, the man has more than 14,000 runs, 52 ODI centuries, and I think 32 Test centuries. He's scored thousands and thousands of runs, so he's allowed a couple of failures. Don't read too much into what has happened - there's plenty of cricket left, plenty of cricket ahead. Maybe Sydney will see a big innings from him. Adelaide, of course, has been his favorite ground in Australia, both at the Test level and in ODIs. He's scored hundreds there, so naturally, everyone was expecting a big one here as well. But that didn't quite happen," stated former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar. 

"What a wonderful ovation he got when he walked out to bat. It was truly heartwarming because the majority of the crowd were Australians. Yes, there were lots of Indians there, but most of the crowd were Australians, recognising what he's done for the game. That ovation was really, really special. No, it's not the end. Look, where he was going - where the players come down from - is where the members' stand is. The members' stand is where former players, administrators, and others sit. I think he was just acknowledging the ovation they were giving him," he added.