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'Kohli Felt It Was Time...': Ganguly's No-Nonsense Take On Virat's Retirement
@Source: news18.com
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has said that as a cricketer, everyone understands when they have to bid goodbye to the sport, adding that it is the same as what happened to Virat Kohli, who knew ‘it was time’ after he retired from the longest format of the game last month.
Kohli announced his retirement on May 12, having informed BCCI four days earlier, despite the board’s efforts to persuade him to reconsider his decision.
Ganguly has emphasised that Kohli made the call himself and without any external pressure. The latter’s announcement came after his return to domestic cricket, representing Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, after a disappointing tour Down Under.
“I would say it’s very irrelevant. My terms, someone else’s terms. As a player, you understand. As a player, everyone understands where he stands at the moment. Just look at Virat,” Ganguly said while speaking to PTI.
“Everybody says Why. I know he didn’t have the best five years in Tests, but champions like him rediscover themselves. And I guarantee that if he were on this tour of England, he would have scored runs. But he felt it was time to go,” Ganguly added.
Kohli’s decision left several people surprised, including Ganguly himself, given that he had already retired from T20Is and was expected to continue in Tests for a few more years, at least the ongoing England series.
“Everything has to come to an end. A lot of us were surprised by Virat Kohli’s retirement. Just 36 years old. Fit, although he still plays IPL and ODIs, it is never the same. You have to finish playing someday, and for me, I thought it was the best time for me to finish, and I did,” Ganguly said.
The former India captain reflected on his exit from cricket, drawing a parallel between Kohli’s decision and his. Despite being at his peak in 2007, Ganguly stepped away as the side started looking ahead to the 2011 World Cup with a focus on younger talent.
Reports of Kohli’s Test retirement began circulating after IPL 2025 was postponed for a week and within the next few days, the official announcement came.
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