Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has shared his thoughts on Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket ahead of the five-match series in England. Flower said that India will miss Kohli’s energy, positivity, and aggression on the field, calling it a significant moment for Indian cricket.
Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket on May 12, ending his 14-year career. Kohli left behind a lasting legacy as both a batter and a leader. India are currently in England for the Test series, which began on June 20 in Leeds. The Men in Blue still have senior players like Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja.
Virat Kohli Has Been a Great Player in Every Format – Andy Flower
While speaking to ANI, Andy Flower said that any team would miss a player like Virat Kohli, not just for his batting skills, but also for his intensity, energy, and positive aggression. Flower stated that transitions are a natural part of the game, adding that India have lots of young talent.
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“He has been a great player in any format of the game he has played. Any team will miss him, not only for his batting but for his energy, his positivity and his aggression,” Flower said.
“It is always nice having those influences in teams, where you have a few individuals that are super aggressive like he [Virat Kohli] is, in a good way. So, I think they might miss that.”
“This is the reality of these situations when great players move on, is that time moves on and teams move on and India are lucky in that they have lots of young talent coming through,” he added.
Watch the video of the same posted by ANI on X (formerly Twitter):
#WATCH | Rishikesh, Uttarakhand: On Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test and T20, Former Zimbabwean cricket captain and RCB coach, Andy Flower, says “He has been a great player in any format of the game he has played. Any team will miss him, not only for his… pic.twitter.com/MPOlpe6XOP
— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2025
We Will Still See Virat Kohli in the IPL and ODI Cricket – Andy Flower
Andy Flower called it a pleasure to watch Virat Kohli play and even train. While Kohli has stepped away from Test cricket, Flower reminded fans that they’ll still get to see him in action in the IPL and ODIs. He added that Kohli still has the passion and ability to score runs.
“It has been beautiful to see Virat play. We will still see him in the IPL and ODI cricket. I like watching him in training, let alone in matches,” Flower said.
“So, I think this is the normal transition of life. I wish him luck as he enters this next phase of his career. He still has a lot of energy and plenty of runs left in him, so we’ll continue to enjoy his game for a few more years,” he continued.
Andy Flower Guided RCB to First-Ever IPL Title After 18-Year Wait
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their first-ever IPL title in 2025 after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thrilling final in Ahmedabad on June 3. RCB ended an 18-year title drought for the coveted trophy.
Andy Flower, who took over as head coach ahead of the 2024 season, guided the team to the playoffs in his debut year. RCB continued the momentum in 2025, finishing second on the points table with nine wins and 19 points from 14 games.
The Rajat Patidar-led team defeated Punjab Kings in the first qualifier with an eight-wicket win. They held their nerve to seal a six-run victory in the final and lift the trophy. Patidar made history by becoming the first RCB captain to lead the side to an IPL title.
Also read: Revealed: Why are India and England players wearing black armbands on Day 3 of Leeds Test?
