Virat Kohli Confirms Last Test in Australia and India's Loss as Swansong: 'No Need to be Nervous'

Star India batter Virat Kohli hinted at a possible change in his international future, suggesting that he may not participate in another tour of Australia. During the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the prolific right-handed batsman struggled to find his form after scoring a century in the second innings of the series opener in Perth. Throughout the five-match series, Kohli repeatedly fell victim to deliveries well outside the off stump, indicating a need for adjustments in his approach.

Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood troubled Virat Kohli in the entire series as the former India captain scored 190 runs in 9 innings.

Australia is one place that has often brought out the best in Virat Kohli. Who can forget his knock in the 2014 Adelaide Test, where he scored centuries in both innings? However, the 2024-25 tour marked a stark difference, as the maverick batter looked a pale shadow of himself.

His numbers would have looked all the more abysmal had Virat Kohli not scored a century in the second innings of the Perth Test. While speaking at RCB Innovation Labs on Saturday, Kohli also said that he is at peace with whatever happened during his probable last tour Down Under.

“If you ask me the intensity of how disappointed I've been... for me the most recent Australia tour would be the one that's most fresh. So, it might feel the most intense to me. But I can't look at it that way. I might not have an Australia tour again in me in four years' time,” Kohli said.

“I don't have the chance to correct it. So you have to make peace with whatever's happened in your life. Like in 2014 (against England) I still had the chance to go in 2018 and do what I did. It might not have been the case,” he added.

However, he also said he is not making any announcements for now as he still loves the game very much. “Don't get nervous. I'm not making any announcements. As of now, everything is fine. I still love playing the game,” said Kohli.

India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3, so the side did not progress to the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) for the first time.

Kohli might not get a chance to tour Australia again for a Test series as the next visit Down Under will probably be scheduled for the 2028-29 season.

“Once you start thinking of the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more. That's something that I've surely experienced in Australia as well. Because I got a good score in the first Test. I thought, right, let's go,” said Kohli.

"There's going to be another big series for me. It didn't turn out that way. How do you cope up with this? For me, it's just about acceptance. This is what happened. I'm going to be honest with myself," he added.

India the best side in the Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli also said that India was the best side in the Champions Trophy; hence, it is no surprise that Rohit Sharma and co. were able to win the title without suffering a single defeat in the 2025 edition of the eight-team tournament.

India defeated New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Stadium. Virat Kohli was one of India's stand-out performers, scoring a century against Pakistan. He also played a crucial 84-run knock off 98 balls in the semi-final against Australia.

Kohli also said he might come out of T20I retirement in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For the uninitiated, cricket will be a part of the Games, and Kohli feels that winning the gold medal will be a whole other feeling.

"I don't know, maybe if we're playing for the gold medal I might sneak in for one game, get the medal and come back home," Kohli said.

“No, but I think it's a great thing. To be Olympic champions would be an absolutely magnificent feeling. A first of its kind and I'm sure we'll be somewhere close to that,” he added.

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