The former counter goalkeeper of the India team, Dinesh Karthik, shared his reflections on Virat Kohli’s decision to withdraw from the test cricket before the Asian 2025 Cup. Karthik said that even if Kohli remains physically ready, his state of mind may have changed and added that it was important to respect his decision.
The thickness born in Delhi announced his retirement from the Test cricket in May. He made the decision a month before the five -game test series in England. The right-handed striker ended his red ball career after 123 games, amassing 9,230 points with an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-century.
I just want Virat Kohli to be happy – Dinesh Karthik
Speaking to India Today South Conclave, Dinesh Karthik was invited to know if Virat Kohli was to reverse his test retirement. Karthik said fans like to watch Kohli playing, but the happiness of the former captain is important.
Your daily cricket dose!
“I think we all like to watch Virat Kohli play.
“I think it is important that we need to respect and honor what his spirit does. I think his body could always be ready, and it’s ready. I can tell you that. But I don’t think his mind is obviously where he was a few years ago.”
“So when he is able to understand and see that this is what his body and his mind tell him to do, for the most part, I think we have to respect this,” he added.
I used to think that Virat Kohli will go shopping – Dinen Karthik
Dinesh Karthik said he would love to see Virat Kohli playing, but he may be mentally exhausted. Karthik said Kohli had always done his best in almost all rounds.
“Would I like Virat Kohli to play? Why not? I mean, I’m really still, when I lit the TV to watch in Australia, all the sleeves I thought he was going to get races.”
“There were a few sleeves where I thought, okay, maybe he doesn’t beat as well as you want.”
“But most of the sleeves, I thought, oh, okay. But when he comes out, you are like, okay, too bad. So, I think he pushed himself to a point where he gave it everything. And maybe he mentally felt that he was tired. He needed a break,” Karthik continued.
Kohli played competitive cricket for the last time in the 2025 IPL. He played a key role in the winning campaign of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The striker finished the tournament as the top scorer in RCB. He scored 657 points in 15 rounds, with eight half-century.
Dinesh Karthik played for the last time in an international match in 2022
Dinesh Karthik played international cricket for India in the three formats and represented the team for the last time at the T20 2022 World Cup. The Guiche-Driveur caretaker appeared in 26 tests, 94 ODI and 60 T20is.
Karthik contributed as an intermediate order drummer in limited cricket and also took the role of a test opener during the historic triumph of India in England in 2007.
The cricket player born in Tamil Nadu was one of India’s victorious teams at the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. One of his remarkable performances occurred in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final, where his explosive 29 is not only 8 balls played a central role in the guarantee of a victory against Bangladesh.
Read also: Ireland T20 Squad for England Series has announced; The drummer born in Canada included
