The former Indian national cricket team opened batsman Navijot Sinshidu and chose the modern great Virat Kohli as India’s “stop gap captain” on the England tour.
Navjot Singh Sidhu said Virat Kohli’s “timing and opportunity” was absolutely inappropriate as he was thinking about his retirement from Test cricket.
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Virat Kohli tells BCCI about his test resignation decision
Kohli reportedly reportedly told the Indian Cricket Committee (BCCI) that he would announce his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the 2025 tour of England tour.
This was a major blow to the BCCI and team management. More recently, Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test, forced him to leave the format and search for a new captain on the board.
Also, Kohli can’t choose in Test cricket, so the Indian team on the tour of England will be very inexperienced. Therefore, BCCI officials have told Virat Kohli to reconsider his decision.
However, the right-hander appears to have made his decision, and he reportedly refused to make a U-turn on a test retirement call.
Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu spoke about Kohli’s decision to quit, stating that his intentions and motivations are right and noble, but the timing is wrong.
Sidhu believes Kohli’s decision to quit cricket just before the tour of England will undermine his chances of winning the India Test series as his experience will be missed.
“The decision of Virat Kohli – he wants to retire – is upset by the entire world of cricket. His intentions are correct, his motivations are noble. However, the timing and opportunity are not appropriate, because India’s pride and fame are on track,” Sidhu said in a video posted to X.
“We are heading for the tour, the most stringent litmus test in other test-play countries. Why do you say Kohli can become the “Knight of Shining Armor” of England?
Navjot Singh Sidhu recalls the interaction of Kapil Dev-Sunil Gavaskar
Navjot Singh Sidhu further recalls the interaction between Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar at the 1987 ODI World Cup, saying:
“In the 1987 ODI World Cup, which was my debut tournament, Sunil Gavaskar was down with a high fever. Captain Kapil Dev asked if he would fit Gavaskar. Kapil Dev said with a smile on his face, “Sunil Gavaskar is 50%, far better than anyone in this world.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu further said that Kohli should be appointed Indian Stop Gap Captain for the next six to seven months.
“He should be India’s stop gap captain for the next six and seven months and lead India from the front,” he added.
Kohli’s intentional nobility… wrong timing – India will need his experience in the UK |
Watch the full video – https://t.co/vkfon4xwel@imvkohliになったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.@bcciになったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do.@rcbtweetsになったんです。 English: The first thing you can do is to find the best one to do. pic.twitter.com/lhx8t1s2oj-Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontoppp) May 10, 2025
