According to reports, Virat Kohli is considering stepping away from Test cricket ahead of the England tour: his idol Sachin Tendulkar once contemplated retirement in 2007, but a Viv Richards call changed things around.
In the 2007 Cricket World Cup, India hit one of their lowest points in cricketing history, crashing out in the group stage following losses to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It has been well-documented that Tendulkar, at the time, considered retiring from the game. Having played five World Cups since 1992, at that time, the trophy had always eluded him.
The closest he came was in the 2003 edition, where he scored 673 runs at an average of 61.18, only for India to lose to Australia in the final. That record – the highest run tally in a single World Cup edition - was surpassed 20 years later by Kohli, who amassed 765 runs at an astonishing average of 95.62.
As they say, all’s well that ends well – and Tendulkar’s story finally reached a fairytale conclusion in 2011 when India lifted the World Cup after a 28-year wait, the batting maestro finishing as their top scorer (482 runs at 53.55). Following India’s disastrous 2007 World Cup campaign, Tendulkar went on to score 8,832 runs at an average of 50.46, taking his century tally to a record 100 before retiring in a Test against West Indies in 2013.
13289 runs @ 55.37
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) May 10, 2025
292 wickets @ 32.65
Where does Jacques Kallis rank among the greatest Test players in history? 🤔#JacquesKallis #Cricket pic.twitter.com/FKdaDPj9Xx
Tendulkar: Sir Viv's call changed things for me
Years later, after retiring, Tendulkar revealed that a 45-minute phone call with Viv Richards in 2007 convinced him not to quit the game – a decision that eventually led to the ultimate prize: a World Cup triumph.
"I felt that was it. At that stage lot of things happening around Indian cricket were not at all healthy. We needed some changes and I felt if those changes did not happen, then I was going to quit cricket. I was almost 90 per cent sure of quitting cricket. But my brother told me in 2011, there is a World Cup final in Mumbai, can you imagine holding that beautiful trophy in your hand?" Tendulkar said in an India Today show in 2019.
Also read: Timing is everything: How brand Tendulkar grew to a level that will never be repeated
"After that, I went away to my farmhouse, and that is when I got a call from Sir Viv, saying I know there is plenty of cricket left in you. We had a conversation for about 45 minutes and that was so heartwarming because when your batting hero calls you, it means a lot. That was the moment things changed for me, and from that moment onwards, I also performed much better," Tendulkar recalled.
Richards heaped high praise on Tendulkar
Richards, who was also one of the guests in the programme, said that he had always believed in Tendulkar.
"I have had the opportunity to play against Sunny (Sunil) Gavaskar, who I have always felt would be the godfather of Indian batting. Then came Sachin, then you now have Virat (Kohli). But the fact which amazed me the most is how such a small guy be so powerful," Richards said.
'I think he’s God where batsmanship is concerned'
In fact, Richards rooted for India to win the 2011 ODI World Cup because he wanted Tendulkar – whom he regarded as 'the best batsman' he had ever seen – to finally lift the trophy.
"I’ve got some sentiments about why I’d like India to win this. A lot of folks ask me questions about the ‘best batsman you’d have seen’ over the years. I’ve heard of Bradman. I respect the pundit’s views in the past about Bradman. When I was asked about Sachin, I could be able to tell him that I did see Sachin. So, I was able to make a verdict on what I think because seeing, sometimes, is believing," Richards said.
"I think he’s God where batsmanship is concerned. What Sachin did, in my opinion, he created a foundation where batsmanship is concerned for the rest of the Indian team…my sentiments go out to India winning this cup because I believe this is going to be Sachin’s last chance," he added.
Perhaps, a phone call from Viv might change things around for Kohli as well: earlier this year, the West Indies great had praised his energy and passion, saying that Kohli "reminded me of myself".
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