Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has expressed his thoughts on Virat Kohli’s early retirement from T20 Internationals, stating that he believes Kohli could have continued playing until the 2026 T20 World Cup, set to take place in the subcontinent. Raina’s comments came after Kohli delivered a stunning performance, scoring 70 runs off 42 balls against the Rajasthan Royals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Raina noted that Kohli still shows great potential and could have made significant contributions for a few more years. Kohli concluded his T20I career on a triumphant note, having led India to victory at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.
“I still feel that Virat Kohli retired a bit too soon from T20 cricket. Given how he’s playing right now and the rhythm he might have had during the 2025 Champions Trophy, he could have definitely played until 2026. He looks fit and still at his peak,” Raina remarked while speaking on Star Sports.
Kohli, who is 35 years old, had a remarkable end to his T20I career with 125 matches played, scoring a total of 4,188 runs at an impressive average of 48.69. His accomplishments in T20 International cricket include one century, 38 half-centuries, and many key performances that were vital for India’s success in the format over the years.
In the history of World Cups, Kohli stands out as the top run-scorer in T20 World Cup history, amassing 1,292 runs. He has also set records for the most runs in a single edition (319 in 2014) and the highest number of 50-plus scores (15). Throughout his career, he has participated in six T20 World Cups.
As India prepares to defend their T20 World Cup title next year with a younger team, the absence of experienced players like Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja will be noticeably felt.
In the recent match against Rajasthan Royals, Kohli showcased his skills and scored a stylish 70 runs on a tough pitch, which helped him rise in the Orange Cap rankings from eighth to second place. He has now scored five half-centuries and totaled 392 runs in just nine matches, falling short of Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan, who leads the list with 417 runs in eight games.
Additionally, Kohli set a remarkable record by becoming the first player in IPL history to accumulate over 3,500 runs at a single venue—the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium—further solidifying his legendary status in cricket.
