'Test cricket misses Kohli': Ex-RCB player's stinging post goes viral as India stare at another home series defeat

NEW DELHI: Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Shreevats Goswami has ignited a fresh debate around India's leadership and direction in red-ball cricket, saying the team desperately misses the “energy and belief” that defined Virat Kohli's era. His remarks came as India suffered yet another batting implosion against South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati.

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In a strongly worded post on X, Goswami said Kohli's retirement from Tests came too soon and the format “misses him” far more than ODIs.

"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 India where he made the team believe that they can win in any condition," he wrote as India faltered once again at home.



His comments reflect the growing frustration around India's red-ball slide. After a shocking series defeat to New Zealand last year, the Rishabh Pant-led side now faces the prospect of another home series loss — this time to South Africa, who haven't won a Test series in India since 2000.



On the field, towering left-arm quick Marco Jansen produced a devastating spell of 6/48 to bowl India out for 201, giving South Africa complete command. India, replying to 489, crumbled to 122/7 before Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav briefly resisted, but the damage had long been done.


With South Africa ending day three at 26/0 and extending their overall lead to 314, India are staring at a fifth home defeat in seven Tests — a stark contrast to the invincible aura once associated with Kohli's reign.

As Goswami's post continues to gain traction, it echoes a sentiment that many fans and former players now share: India's Test team looks adrift, and the void left by Kohli feels bigger than ever.


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