"Indian cricket has never pleaded with anyone" - Aakash Chopra on reports about Virat Kohli amid IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Former India player Aakash Chopra has opined that reports suggesting Virat Kohli's potential return to Tests are untrue. He highlighted that Indian cricket has never pleaded with any player to return to the game once they have announced their retirement.

Kohli scored 135 runs off 120 deliveries in India's 17-run win in the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday, November 30. Certain reports suggested that the former India captain has been requested to take back his Test retirement.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener virtually dismissed reports that suggested Kohli has been asked to reconsider his Test retirement.

"There was a question about whether Virat Kohli will be playing Test cricket again. I don't think that conversation is even happening. People are saying that their sources are credible, that they have fallen at his feet and requested him to return as nothing can happen for them without him," Chopra said.

"This hasn't happened and there are no indications of it happening because Indian cricket works very differently. Indian cricket hasn't gone to anyone asking them to come out of retirement. We don't say that. Indian cricket has never pleaded with anyone," he added.

While observing that retired Indian players are always appreciated for their performances, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that they are never requested to return to the game.

"You can go whenever you want. We will miss you, we value you, we appreciate you, we acknowledge you, we celebrate you, we do all of that, but Indian cricket has never requested anyone because Indian cricket is like that," Chopra observed.

Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement before the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, aggregating 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 games. The ace batter mentioned in the post-match presentation of the first ODI against South Africa that he will continue to play only one format internationally.

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"The truth is that there is no Test cricket for the next 10 months" - Aakash Chopra on reports about Virat Kohli being asked to take back his retirement

India suffered a 2-0 loss in the two-match Test series against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Virat Kohli couldn't have been asked to take back his Test retirement now, considering that India won't be playing red-ball cricket anytime soon.

"It's clickbait. I am sure it will get views. They will get what they want, but the truth is that there is no Test cricket for the next 10 months. So if someone has to talk, they would do it later. Why would they do it now? So that conversation is not happening at all. Keep it aside because that isn't happening one bit," he said.

India have already played three of their six series in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. They will next play Sri Lanka in a two-match away series in August 2026 before playing two away Tests against New Zealand and five home Tests against Australia.