Kolkata : Indian legend Virat Kohli retired from Test Cricket on May 12, 2025, ending a legendary chapter in Indian Cricket history.
Kohli was one of the most successful Test captain and Batter India have ever produced. Having scored 9230 runs, and even showing his desire to complete 10,000 Test runs earlier in an interview, his sudden retirement at age of 36 shook the Cricketing world and fans. Kohli’s retirement came days after Rohit’s decision to retire.
There were earlier reports that BCCI asked Kohli to stay back and play England series despite his desire to retire from Tests. However, fresh reports reveal new secrets.
A report in The Dainik Jagran claims something totally opposite. It states that Kohli wasn’t asked to reconsider his decision at all by BCCI. Rather, Kohli was told bluntly by the decision-makers that he does not warrant a place in India’s Test team anymore due to his poor form.
“The BCCI does not request anyone. A player’s decision is his personal choice. We don’t interfere in it,” Jagran quoted a source as saying. Furthermore, that India lost the series 0-3 – their first-ever Test series loss on home soil in 12 years – and failed to progress to the final of the World Test Championship for the first time, escalated the entire matter. A meeting was held in Mumbai on May 7, where former Test captain Rohit was informed that he does not fit in India’s Test set-up anymore. It is to be noted that in an earlier interview with Michael Clarke, Rohit also expressed his desire to play England series even lead the Indian side.
Turns out, Kohli was delivered the same message. When asked if Kohli will travel to England, the BCCI source added, “Hopefully not.”
Kohli and Rohit suffered lackluster forms during Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with Bat, eventually losing the series 3-1 to Australia.
Virat Kohli aimed for 3-4 tons in England, was ready to play for India A: Delhi Ranji coach
Even Sarandeep Singh, Delhi’s Ranji coach revealed that Kohli had told him in a conversation that he was keen to perform well in the five-Test series in England and was prepared to play practice games with the India A team in June.
Sarandeep, speaking to JioStar, said Kohli had told him during the Ranji Trophy match that he was eager to shoulder responsibility as a senior batter in the team and score three or four hundreds in England.
“Only he knows the reason (for his retirement). Everyone is shocked,” Sarandeep said.
“There was no sign of it. Neither did I hear from anyone else about this. Look at the way he is performing in the IPL. He is in good form”.
“I asked him if he would play a couple of County Cricket matches before the England tour. He said, ‘No Paaji, I am looking to play India A matches. Two India A matches where I will prepare for the Test series.’ He had a settled plan. Suddenly, seeing him end his red-ball career is surprising. He doesn’t have any fitness issues, no form issues,” he said.
“If you look at the Australia tour, Virat is known for his big runs Down Under. He started with a century and didn’t get it. He was not satisfied with it.
“During the Ranji Trophy, he told me, ‘I want to score three or four hundreds in England. I have to take responsibility being the senior batter in the team’,” the coach added.
Now, after going through all reports everyone is confused – A willful decision of Kohli? Or forceful retirement coming under BCCI’s pressure?
