Former India cricketer Suresh Raina believes that Virat Kohli’s T20I retirement had come early, saying that he could have easily continued to play until the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Raina’s remark comes after Virat Kohli’s vintage knock of 70 runs off 42 deliveries in the IPL 2025 game against the Rajasthan Royals on Friday.
He added that Kohli still had plenty left in the tank and could have continued contributing at the highest level. Virat Kohli‘s career ended with a high note after guiding India to a title win at the 2024 T20 World Cup Barbados.
“I still think that Virat Kohli retired early from T20I cricket. He could have played until 2026, based on the rhythm with which he is playing right now, and the rhythm during the 2025 Champions Trophy as well. The way he has maintained his fitness, he looks like he is at his peak still,” said Raina.
The 35 year old delivered a match-winning performance in the finals and bowed out with 125 T20Is to his name scoring 4,188 runs at an average of 48.69. His stats includes one century, 38 fifties and a wealth of crucial knocks that shaped India’s T20 journey over the years.
India will be gearing up to defend their T20 World Cup title next year with a youthful squad, the absence of stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru opener produced a classy 70 against Rajasthan Royals on a challenging pitch, moving from eighth to second in the Orange Cap standings.
With five half centuries and 392 runs in nine matches, Kohli trails only Gujarat Titans’ Said Sudharsan who has 417 runs in eight games.
In yet another record-breaking feat, Kohli become the first player in the IPL history to score over 3,500 runs at a single venue – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play their next game against Delhi Capitals on April 27 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
