“Definitely Not Finished”: Australia Star Backs Virat Kohli To Continue His Cricket Career

Virat Kohli retired from T20I cricket after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024. And at 36 years of age, Kohli is at the twilight of his career. However, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis feels that despite that, the former India skipper has a lot left to contribute in cricket. 

Stoinis, who has known Kohli since his Under-19 cricket days and through a mutual friend in Perth, reflected that Kohli has played many different roles and avatars in his career, and his career is definitely not finished.

“We’ve known each other for a long time. We’ve got a mutual friend in Perth who has known him for a long time as well. So that’s sort of how that relationship started,” Stoinis told PTI. 

“But yeah, what a great career it’s been so far. It’s definitely not finished. It seems like he’s worn a few caps throughout his career in terms of being the young guy coming into an Indian team that forced his way in there at such a young age and showed such confidence in himself to crack into such a good team to then leading the team and almost changing the whole culture of Indian cricket and inspiring a lot of the young cricketers around India and around the world.”

Stoinis also praised Kohli’s trendsetter role in Indian cricket and asserted that he has been a mentor for the larger populace as well, alongside being a world beating cricketer. 

“And then a whole new phase of the fitness side of things as well that he inspired in the Indian set-up to now mentoring the new kids on the block. And he’s got his family now as well,” Stoinis said. 

“I think all of those phases have served a purpose, not only for himself, but as a mentor for the wider public and the cricket community. So always hats off to him, to be honest.”

The Australian all-rounder also commented on the depth of Indian cricket and felt that IPL has instilled a lot of fearlessness in the youngsters. 

“There’s great depth here (in Indian cricket). There always has been. And I think they’re getting the chance to show their skills on a world stage. They are super confident. They’ve had almost the advantage of growing up with IPL, being under pressure from early stages in their career,” the Punjab Kings player said. 

“It’s brilliant to see how fearless they are with their cricket and especially (while playing for) Indian cricket (team). Some of the youngsters in the Punjab Kings camp who have never really played the IPL are very impressive.”