'I saw Test cricket mainly for Virat': Preity Zinta on Kohli’s Test retirement

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 13, 2025, 23:41 IST

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Preity Zinta expressed her admiration for Virat Kohli's transformative impact on Test cricket following his sudden retirement. She highlighted his passion, character, and competitiveness, suggesting the game won't be the same. Zinta also acknowledged the significant void left by Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ashwin, emphasizing the challenge for current players to fill their shoes.

'I saw Test cricket mainly for Virat': Preity Zinta on Kohli’s Test retirement

Preity Zinta and Virat Kohli

Bollywood actor and Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta has shared an emotional response to Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from Test cricket. Replying to a fan who asked her thoughts on Kohli stepping away from the longest format, Zinta expressed deep admiration for the former India captain, calling him a transformative figure in red-ball cricket. “I saw Test cricket mainly for Virat. He infused so much passion and so much character into the game with his competitiveness & the desire to excel. I don’t think Test cricket will ever be the same again,” Zinta wrote in a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter).

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Zinta’s comments came shortly after Kohli’s official announcement, which followed Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Tests just days earlier. The double blow has left Indian cricket fans stunned and has sparked widespread discussion about the future of India’s red-ball squad.

Preity also reflected on the massive gap these legends will leave behind: “Our current Indian players will have big shoes to fill cuz the likes of Virat, Rohit & Ashwin are not playing Test cricket anymore.”

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Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket after 14 years

Kohli retires with an illustrious record in Test cricket—scoring over 9230 runs, including 30 centuries—and was widely credited for bringing an aggressive, results-driven mindset to the Indian Test side. His leadership played a pivotal role in India’s rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings. As fans and former players continue to react, Preity Zinta’s words resonate with many who see Kohli’s exit as the end of an era for Indian Test cricket.

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TOI Sports Desk

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