Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has weighed in on the growing speculation about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma possibly returning to Test cricket, saying that if the two superstars are considering a comeback, the BCCI must take it seriously.

After India’s 0-2 home Test series defeat to South Africa, rumours online suggested that the BCCI may approach the duo to come out of Test retirement. Amid the ongoing conversation about the future of the longest format, Pietersen stressed that the presence of India’s biggest names could be vital.

Pietersen said he doesn’t usually believe everything he sees on social media, but if there is any truth to the speculation, it’s a matter of great importance. “If it’s half true that both Virat and Rohit are considering playing Test cricket again, then it needs to be taken very, very seriously. The survival of Test cricket is a hot topic of conversation and if the biggest stars in the game want to play it again, they must play,” Pietersen tweeted on Sunday.

The discussion comes at a time when Test cricket’s relevance is being debated worldwide, adding further weight to Pietersen’s stance.