As the curtain close to getting drawn on a dramatic series in England, the absence of Virat Kohli finds a powerful voice in the form of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. As the fifth and final Test at London’s Oval stews in suspense, Tharoor’s tongue-in-cheek appeal to “call [Kohli] out of retirement” channels both nostalgia and frustration, and thrusts Indian cricket’s present vulnerabilities into the spotlight.
Shashi Tharoor calls for Virat Kohli in the Tests
India found themselves in deep crisis as England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root stitched together an electric 195-run partnership, draining the life out of the Indian attack. By stumps on Day 4, the hosts were at 339/6, a mere 35 runs away from chasing a daunting 374-run target and clinching the series.
Rattled, Indian fans took to social media, but it was Tharoor’s lamentation that resonated the most: “His grit and intensity, his inspirational presence in the field, not to mention his abundant batting skills, might have led to a different outcome. Is it too late to call him out of retirement? Virat, the nation needs you!”
Kohli’s leadership was never just about runs; it was about attitude. Whether it was marshalling his bowlers, chirping from slip, or orchestrating fielding positions with infectious intensity, the 36-year-old’s imprint on the field was unmistakable. India’s current predicament—facing a potential series loss and unable to break crucial stands—brings his absence into harsh relief. As Tharoor’s post went viral, many recalled matches under Kohli’s captaincy when India clawed out improbable wins in England, with tactical gambles and vocal encouragement rewriting the team’s wavering fortunes.
I’ve been missing @imVkohli a few times during this series, but never as much as in this Test match. His grit and intensity, his inspirational presence in the field, not to mention his abundant batting skills, might have led to a different outcome. Is it too late to call him out…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 3, 2025
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Is a comeback real, or just a dream?
The emotional question, “Is it too late?”—posed not just by Tharoor but by hundreds of fans—feels both rhetorical and desperate. Kohli ended his Test career in May 2025 after 14 years, amassing over 9,200 runs and captaining some unforgettable overseas campaigns. He was India’s most successful Test captain on English soil, and his retirement left an unfillable gap, both in the line-up and in the psyche of the team.
Despite a late surge by Indian pacers on Day 4—Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj striking back to dismiss both Root and Bethell before bad light and rain forced early stumps—the precarious situation underscores the void in leadership and belief. Coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill now face mounting scrutiny, while the public imagination—stoked by Tharoor’s candid yearning—reels under the weight of “what if”.
Kohli’s Test retirement, by all accounts, was thoughtfully timed and wholly his own. Yet in these high-stakes moments, as English bats burnished their chase and the Oval crowd braced for the final act, calls for his return are less a rational plea and more a testament to his enduring legend—the charismatic leader whose presence is felt even in absence.