Former Bengal wicketkeeper-batter Shreevats Goswami has sparked debate by claiming India’s Test team is missing Virat Kohli’s fire, intensity, and belief. As India struggles against South Africa, Goswami feels Kohli’s absence has left a void that the current setup has been unable to fill.
“Kohli Should Have Stayed in Tests, Not ODIs,” Says Goswami
Reacting to India’s lacklustre performance in the ongoing Guwahati Test, Goswami argued that Kohli made the wrong choice when stepping away from Test cricket while continuing in ODIs.
Sharing his thoughts on X, he wrote:
“Ideally, Virat should have left playing ODIs & continued playing test cricket until he had nothing to give. Test cricket misses him. Not just as a player but just the energy he brought, the love & passion playing for 🇮🇳 where he made the team believe that they can win in any condition.”
Goswami believes India’s Test team today lacks the sharpness and self-belief that Kohli consistently demanded from his players.
India’s Test Decline Makes Kohli’s Absence More Noticeable
India’s recent Test form has been disappointing.
A 2–0 defeat in New Zealand in 2024 broke their momentum, and although a 2–0 win against the West Indies brought temporary relief, the slide soon resumed.
- A heavy defeat in Kolkata
- A deteriorating situation in the Guwahati Test
- And the possibility of losing a home series to South Africa
All have highlighted India’s vulnerability in red-ball cricket — something Goswami believes Kohli’s presence may have countered.
Fans React: Did Kohli Leave Because of the Environment?
Goswami also engaged with fans, responding to a user who suggested that Kohli felt more welcomed in ODIs than in Tests.
“He needed a team environment that conveyed the same sentiment about his role in tests.”
Goswami replied:
“Agree. Perhaps he left too soon because of the environment ?? We would never know.”
His response hints at deeper dressing-room issues that may have influenced Kohli’s decisions.
Marco Jansen Exposes India on a Supposedly “Flat” Pitch
Adding to India’s woes, Marco Jansen dominated with both bat and ball on a track that Kuldeep Yadav described as a “road.”
Jansen’s performance included:
- a brilliant 93 with the bat,
- followed by a destructive 6/48 with the ball,
dismantling India for just 201 in their first innings.
At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Jansen’s bounce and control proved too much for the Indian batters.
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