No! Virat Kohli isn’t retiring: childhood coach squashes speculations

A stir was created when skipper Virat Kohli said that he had, “few years of cricket” left in him after India had completed an emphatic eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the first ODI.

Speculations started doing the rounds after Kohli had said this as many felt that he would soon call it a day on his cricketing career.

“I have few years left in my career to enjoy this sport. Playing for the country is a matter of pride and a huge honour. You can’t afford to take any game lightly. You got to be honest to the sport and that is when the sport gives you back. I try to do that,” he had said.

But all such rumours were put to rest when Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma said that the flamboyant 29-year old still had 10 more years of cricket left in him.

Also read: Tough to stop Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma when in full flow: Ravindra Jadeja

While speaking to India News, Sharma said, “I don’t think he wanted to say a few years. You be assured. You will see him playing for India for the next 10 years. He will not retire before the age of 40 as his appetite to make runs will not satiate before that. He did not want to say that. He wanted to say that he has 5-7 years left to play the game. He is not going anywhere for the next 10 years. There is no injury concern to him.”

Kohli’s comments made sense as he has had injuries all throughout this year.

Earlier, he skipped the third 20-over match against South Africa. He had an injury during the IPL and also had to miss out on his county stint for Surrey with a neck injury.

His back issue during the tour of England made the BCCI rest the captain for the Asia Cup last month.

Image credit- NDTV Sports