"Was he dropped or is it a personal decision?": Kapil Dev on Virat Kohli's Test retirement

Kapil Dev and Virat Kohli

Former India skipper Kapil Dev is shocked by Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket and has demanded transparency on the reason behind this sudden call. Kohli, 36, announced his retirement from the longest format of the game with a touching Instagram post on Monday. Reports have suggested a multitude of reasons for Kohli's unexpected departure.

Former India skipper Kapil Dev is shocked by Virat Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket and has demanded transparency on the reason behind this sudden call.

Virat Kohli. Pic/Getty Images

Conflicting reports

Reports have suggested a multitude of reasons for Kohli's unexpected departure. Some claim Kohli wanted more family time and was unhappy with BCCI's diktat, restricting families on overseas tours. Other reports claimed that the BCCI have pushed Kohli out after Rohit Sharma's recent retirement from Tests, as they want to groom young blood.

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Kapil, however, simply sought clarity on the matter. "I came to know of Virat's retirement a bit late since I'm in America. I still can't understand the reason. Why has Virat taken this decision? Yes, it's totally his prerogative to take such an important decision, but has the BCCI accepted his retirement decision? But why has he retired?" the 66-year-old former all-rounder questioned.

Kapil Dev. Pic/PTI

Kohli's batting numbers (9230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85) coupled with his aggressive and successful captaincy tenure from 2014 to 2022 reshaped the Indian Test team into a powerhouse at the global stage after his predecessor MS Dhoni's exit. India won 40 of the 68 matches Kohli led in, and ended the calendar year as the World No. 1 Test team on five occasions. Kohli also brought a fitness culture into Team India. Lavishing praise on Kohli's exploits, India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil continued: "Virat is such a great player, he has won so many matches for India. He is so fit, always raring to go. Was he dropped or is it a personal decision?"

‘We need transparency'

Kapil, the legendary leader, who claimed 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs across 131 Tests, stressed that a cricket crazy nation like India deserves an answer.

"The nation would like to know the reason. Virat is still a good enough player, so why will he retire? This question is coming to my mind again and again. Is it due to some problem? And if so, it could be sorted out through discussion. He is Virat Kohli, so everyone will be curious [about his Test retirement call]. We [India] are a cricket crazy nation. So, there should be transparency in this matter," Kapil signed off.