Pat Cummins reflects on BGT potentially being the last of Virat Kohli in Tests

The uproar is loud across the fraternity over the future of Indian stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The upheaval within the Indian team that surfaced during the Border Gavaskar Trophy is no secret. While some pundits are calling for the senior players to regain their form by grinding in domestic cricket, others are predicting that their time is up. Discussions are rife that the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which India lost 3-1 in Sydney, could mark the final series for both Kohli and Sharma. The Indian skipper sat out the Sydney Test but remained confident about his return to the format. However, there has been no update on where Virat Kohli stands at the moment.

"It will be sad": Pat Cummins on the prospect of Virat Kohli retiring

Sunday marked the day when Australia finally reclaimed the Border Gavaskar Trophy after a decade-long wait. Following his side's 3-1 victory, Australian captain Pat Cummins attended the press conference where he described the 2024-25 BGT as one of his favorite series. Fielding numerous questions about the five-match tournament, Cummins was asked to reflect on the possibility of Virat Kohli retiring from the format. Responding to the query, Cummins referred to Kohli as a star batter. Furthermore, the World Cup-winning skipper explained that Virat's presence on the field was something he always looked forward to, not just for his gameplay but also for his competitive spirit.

“It’s always been a wonderful contest. More than just the runs that he scored, he brings a bit of theatre to the game, which is sometimes good and sometimes it can rile you up as an opposition, which I’m sure is part of his plans," Cummins said. "Really enjoyed playing with him. You know, he’s been one of the star batters for the last decade or so. You know, if you get his wicket, it goes a long way to winning a game, so yeah, it will be sad if it’s his last series,” he added.

The recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy was particularly troubling for the seasoned Indian batter. Despite scoring a century in the opening BGT fixture in Perth, Kohli managed only 190 runs across the five Tests at a dismal average of 23.75. Moreover, his vulnerability against deliveries outside the off-stump remained evident throughout the series, as 8 out of the 9 times he batted, he lost his wicket by edging similar deliveries. With India now out of the WTC Championship race, their next Test series is scheduled for late 2025 against England. It remains to be seen if Kohli will continue until then to try and reclaim his form or if one of the greatest batting sagas in Test cricket ends here with the Border Gavaskar Trophy.