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Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has stirred conversation in the cricketing world with his remarks on Virat Kohli’s T20I retirement. According to Raina, Kohli might have bid farewell to the format too soon, suggesting the legendary batter could have easily continued playing T20 Internationals till 2026.
Kohli, who helped India clinch the T20 World Cup title in Barbados last year, called time on his T20I career after the triumph. His match-winning knock in the final against South Africa also earned him the Player of the Match award, capping off an illustrious T20I journey.
Despite his international retirement, Kohli continues to thrive in the shortest format. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025, the former skipper has been in red-hot form. In RCB’s latest fixture against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 24 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli smashed a brilliant 70 off 42 balls, powering his team to a total of 205/5. RCB successfully defended the total, securing a vital 11-run win and moving to No. 3 in the points table.
Kohli’s consistency with the bat has seen him rise to No. 2 in the Orange Cap standings. He has amassed 392 runs from nine innings at an average of 65.33 and a strike rate of 144.12.
Suresh Raina, speaking on Star Sports, heaped praise on Kohli’s current form and elite fitness levels.
“I still think that Virat Kohli retired early from T20I cricket. He could have played until 2026, based on the rhythm with which he is playing right now, and the rhythm during the 2025 Champions Trophy as well. The way he has maintained his fitness, he looks like he is at his peak still,” Raina said.
Kohli is the leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history and remains the all-time top run-getter in the IPL. Should he finish as the highest scorer in IPL 2025, Kohli will become the first Indian player — and second overall — to win three Orange Caps. He had also bagged the Orange Cap in the previous season.
Against RR, Kohli’s brilliance was complemented by Devdutt Padikkal’s explosive 50 off 27 balls. On the bowling front, Josh Hazlewood delivered a match-defining spell, picking up 4 wickets for 33 runs. The win ended RR’s winning streak and marked RCB’s second consecutive victory.
As Kohli continues to shine in the IPL, fans and pundits alike are left wondering what more he could have achieved in T20Is had he continued just a little longer.
Would you have liked to see Kohli in the T20 World Cup 2026?
