Lyricist and writer Javed Akhtar has requested star batter Virat Kohli to reconsider his test retirement.

On Wednesday, Akhtar took to his X handle and mentioned that he is ‘disappointed’ with Virat Kohli’s decision.

“Obviously, Virat knows better, but as an admirer of this great player, I am disappointed by his rather premature retirement from Test cricket,” Javed Akhtar wrote and then added, “I think there is still a lot of cricket in him. I sincerely request him to reconsider his decision.”

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket after 14 years. He shared an emotional post on Instagram and wrote, “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”

“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. As I step away from this format, it’s not easy but it feels right.”

“I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” the cricketer added.

Apart from Javed Akhtar, former India wk-batter Syed Kirmani, a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team told PTI, “Everybody has to retire, but he should have played a bit more. However, I respect his decision. I wish him luck for future,” said Kirmani.

“Questions like why he’s retiring, or whether he’s out of form or under pressure, don’t make any sense. It’s a player’s individual decision,” argued Kirmani, adding, “I don’t feel he is after records. It might be the excess of cricket that led to this. Records don’t matter to him. I don’t think he had any sort of pressure on him while making this decision.”