Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar recalled an incident at an India Today event in 2019 when he was going through a tough phase in his career and was contemplating retirement in 2007. Tendulkar spoke to his elder brother regarding his mental state, who suggested him to visualise playing the biggest match of his career at the Wankhede Stadium four years down the line in a World Cup final. While the Little Master was still not convinced and asked for some time, it was Sir Vivian Richards who had to pick up the phone and persuade him to continue to play, insisting that, 'there is still a lot of cricket left in him.' Tendulkar was 34 then, and did go on to play the 2011 World Cup final at Wankhede, four years later, that India won.

With reports coming in about Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, social media believes that perhaps one phone call from Tendulkar can change his mind, as the 36-year-old still has a lot of cricket left in him. Perhaps, it can turn around Kohli's Test career as well, just like it did wonders for Tendulkar's career. It is to be noted here that India are scheduled to tour England next month to play a five-match Test series, and Kohli's presence in the Indian dressing room might be important, given that former India captain Rohit Sharma has already called time on his Test career earlier in the week.

"In 2007, Sachin was 90% ready to retire, till a call from his hero Viv Richards changed everything. He stayed and won the 2011 WC. Maybe at this tough phase, Kolly saab too needs a call from his hero, Sachin. If he has decided, idk reports are saying this, then maybe he can reconsider," a user wrote on X, while another pointed out, "Sachin Tendulkar in his autobiography 'In 2007, when I was contemplating retirement, Sir Viv Richards called me & convinced me that there is a lot of Cricket left in me, He encouraged me'. - Hope someone does this for Virat Kohli, He is 36 & still has lot of cricket left in him."

Kohli has not been in great form in the longest form of the game and managed to score only 93 runs in the three-match Test series against New Zealand at home, followed by 190 runs in nine innings at 23.75 against Australia, which includes a century in the first Test in Perth. Kohli, however, has looked in great touch in the Indian Premier League and stands fourth in the list of leading scorers this season before IPL 2025 was suspended due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

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