New Delhi, Jul 4: Former India captain Kapil Dev says he was disappointed by Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket, arguing that the batting great still had the ability to succeed in the format and could have earned a place back in the national team.

Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, ending a 14-year career in which he scored 9,230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries. India's most successful Test captain, he led the team to 40 victories in 68 Tests before stepping away ahead of the England tour, saying he had "given everything" to the format.

'He Still Had the Ability'
Speaking to Sports Tak, Kapil said he wished Kohli had continued playing instead of retiring.

"I wasn't happy when he retired from Test cricket. It's not about 10,000 runs or any milestone. I felt that if he had stayed away from reacting in anger for six months, there was every chance he would have played for India again," Kapil said.

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain said Kohli should have remained patient even if he was left out of the team.

"If the selectors didn't pick him, it's okay. If the captain didn't pick him, it's okay. Go back, work hard, score runs in domestic cricket or wherever you play. He would have come back because he still has the ability of a Test match player," he said.

Compares Kohli to McEnroe
Kapil compared Kohli's fiery on-field personality to tennis great John McEnroe, saying some athletes perform at their best when driven by emotion.

"Looking at Virat, I remember John McEnroe. Until he fought, he couldn't produce his best performance," Kapil said.

He contrasted Kohli's aggressive style with the calmer approach of former India greats Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.

"Some players, like Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin, keep their heads down and let their performances do the talking. But some players take up challenges," he said.

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'Aggression Was Part of His Success'
Kapil acknowledged that Kohli's aggressive approach sometimes appeared excessive but said it may have been integral to his success.

"Sometimes, looking at Virat, you feel he should cool down a little. But maybe he believed his performances became better when he was that enthusiastic. That was probably his own thought process, and he had every right to think that way," he said.

Kohli Continues in ODIs
Although Kohli has retired from Test cricket and T20 Internationals, he remains available for One-Day Internationals and is expected to play a key role in India's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.