In the wake of his exit, reports have surfaced suggesting that the decision may not have been entirely one-sided
Virat Kohli (Pic: AFP)
The Indian Test team finds itself navigating a period of uncertainty following Virat Kohli’s abrupt retirement from the longest format on Monday, mere weeks before a pivotal five-match series against England.
For over a decade, Kohli served as the backbone of India’s Test batting order. He was the anchor during collapses, the aggressor when needed, and a relentless force in some of the toughest conditions the sport has to offer.
In the wake of his exit, reports have surfaced suggesting that the decision may not have been entirely one-sided. According to Dainik Jagran, the cricket board did not make any effort to persuade Kohli to continue for the England tour. Instead, the 36-year-old was reportedly informed that he no longer fit into the Test setup.
A source told Dainik Jagran that the BCCI does not make personal requests to any player, emphasising that such decisions are entirely personal and the board does not intervene. The report also stated that a similar message was conveyed to former captain Rohit Sharma during a meeting in Mumbai on May 7. Mid-Day, however, could not verify these claims.
Kohli’s final act in Test whites unfolded far from Indian shores, on Australian soil, a place synonymous with some of his greatest triumphs. Ironically, the land that once witnessed his rise and reign also became the stage for his exit. His final innings ended in familiar agony, chasing a wide delivery from Scott Boland and nicking behind, symbolic of a career that had begun to wrestle with time, reflexes, and fading dominance.
Earlier, Kohli took to his Instagram handle and announced his decision to retire from the longest format of the game.
"It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life. There's something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever," Kohli wrote on Instagram.
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"As I step away from this format, it's not easy - but it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for. I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude - for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off," the post added.
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