Greg Chappell decodes why Virat Kohli walked away from Test cricket

Former Australian cricketer Greg Chappell has stated that Virat Kohli‘s retirement from Test cricket was likely due to mental fatigue rather than a result of his prolonged poor form. Kohli, who recently announced his retirement ahead of India‘s pivotal tour of England, has struggled for consistent performances in the longest format of the game since 2020, leading many to believe that his dip in form led to his decision.

However, Chappell mentioned that Kohli’s retirement stemmed more from mental uncertainty than a decline in his batting ability. He felt Kohli acknowledged that his physical condition no longer aligned with the mental determination needed to excel at the top level.

“His decision wasn’t driven by a loss of skill, but by the growing awareness that he could no longer access the mental clarity that once made him so dominant. He recognised that, at the highest level, without a sharp and decisive mind, the body begins to fail,” Chappell wrote in his ESPNcricinfo column.

Chappell also explained how such a lack of mental clarity can impact a player’s decision-making and movement at the crease, leading to significant challenges in their game.

“When doubt settles in, it disrupts decision-making, hinders footwork, and diminishes the spontaneity essential for elite performance. Kohli’s retirement highlights the fact that form is more a reflection of the mind than of physical technique,” Chappell added.

Kohli retired after 123 Test matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Kohli’s form had steadily worsened from 2020 onwards, accumulating just 2,028 runs in 39 Test matches (69 innings) at an average of 30.72. His record comprised three centuries and nine half-centuries. In 2024, he scored just 440 runs from 11 Tests (21 innings), averaging 23.15, with one century and one half-century.

As a consequence of his prolonged lack of form, Kohli’s Test batting average dropped from 54.97 in 2019 to 46.85 by the time he retired.

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