Sanjay Manjrekar is standing firm on his assessment of Virat Kohli's Test retirement, asserting that Kohli opted for the "easiest format" by continuing to play One Day International (ODI) cricket. Manjrekar's initial comments, made earlier in the week, have sparked considerable debate within the cricketing community, and he has now doubled down on his views.

Manjrekar's renewed critique comes in the wake of Joe Root's impressive 41st Test century during the recent Ashes Test. This feat reignited comparisons between modern-day greats, including Root, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Kohli, who were once considered the "Fab Four" of cricket. However, Kohli is the only one among them to have retired from Test cricket.

Manjrekar expressed his disappointment that Kohli, despite his deep care for Test cricket, chose to step away from the format. He suggested that it would have been more understandable if Kohli had retired from all forms of the game rather than selectively retiring from Test cricket while continuing in ODIs. Manjrekar believes that, for a top-order batter, the ODI format is the "easiest".

According to Manjrekar, Kohli's retirement from Test cricket came after a prolonged period of struggle, where he averaged just 31 for five years. Manjrekar questioned whether Kohli had truly put his "heart and soul" into resolving the issues that led to his decline in Test form. He noted that Kohli had a fitness level that would have allowed him to fight to get back into form. Manjrekar suggested that Kohli could have played first-class cricket in various conditions to make a comeback to the test format.

While Manjrekar acknowledged that Kohli's retirement was a personal choice, he expressed sadness at seeing contemporaries like Root and Smith continuing to excel in Test cricket while Kohli has moved on. He contrasted the challenges of Test cricket with those of ODIs and T20s, emphasizing that Test cricket provides the ultimate test of a player's skills and temperament.

In elaborating on his view that ODIs are the easiest format, Manjrekar pointed out that top-order batters in ODIs are often reluctant to bat in the same position in Test cricket. He also alluded to Kohli's struggles against Australia, where he scored only 190 runs in nine innings, often getting dismissed while reaching for deliveries outside off stump. Manjrekar implied that Kohli's inability to overcome these shortcomings might have contributed to his decision to retire from Tests.

Manjrekar's comments have triggered diverse reactions. Some observers agree with his assessment, arguing that Kohli's Test form had been declining for several years and that his decision to focus on ODIs reflects a prioritization of personal milestones over the challenges of Test cricket. Others have criticized Manjrekar's remarks, arguing that Kohli's retirement is a personal matter and that his contributions to Indian cricket should be celebrated rather than scrutinized. They also point to the physical and mental toll that playing all three formats can take on a player, suggesting that Kohli's decision to retire from Tests may have been motivated by a desire to prolong his career in other formats.