Virat Kohli has ruled out any possibility of a return to Test cricket, joking during the launch of his new shoe line that he would rather sell the product at a lower price than return to add more runs to his Test tally.The former India captain, who retired from Test cricket last year after scoring 9,230 runs, was attending the world premiere of his One8 shoe line when he was asked a light-hearted question about returning to white.
The red-coloured boot has been priced in line with Kohli’s Test run tally, prompting suggestions that he could make a return to the longer format and add more value to the product. But Kohli quickly dismissed the idea with a smile.“I’d rather sell for less. I’m done with (Test cricket),” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.While the exchange provided a humorous moment, Kohli also spoke at length about the mentality that has defined his career. The great batsman explained that he has always been driven by the belief that the match is never over until the final score is decided, no matter how difficult the situation.
To illustrate this mindset, Kohli pointed to India’s memorable win over Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Melbourne, a match in which he played one of the best innings of his career.“I’m made that way. I almost crave situations where people feel like it’s over, and then you can somehow turn the game back on.”“This is the way I look at situations from a very young age. I never stopped believing, until the end, that the game was lost or we couldn’t win.
Some magical things have happened.“One incident for me that will always stand out is that match against Pakistan in Melbourne. I was told later that the chances of winning the match were around 3% or something like that. But I never thought that way. Even 1% is enough. If there’s a chance, there’s a chance. So, it’s never over until you lose the match,” Kohli said.The 37-year-old also spoke about how his character has evolved over the years.
Kohli, known for his fiery and aggressive behavior during the early stages of his international career, believes his junior would be surprised by the calmness he has now.“Maybe he didn’t fancy himself so calm. Maybe I expected him to stay loud and boisterous.“It’s gone well, and looking at what we’re doing, I’ll have a sense of pride. I feel like I’ll walk into any room with my head held high.”
Feel free to find out who I am and what I’m trying to do.“Just follow my vision and my heart and have the conviction to do it. These are the things I would be proud of.”Kohli continues to be a major force in Indian cricket despite being away from the Test arena. Now a one-man international, he recently added another significant milestone to his glittering career by helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinch their second successive IPL title.Even as he embraces a different phase of his journey, Kohli’s competitive spirit and unwavering confidence in himself remains as strong as ever.