- By Himanshu Badola
- Sat, 10 May 2025 01:40 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Virat Kohli, India's star batter, is thinking over hanging up his boots from Test cricket ahead of the team's all-important away Test series against England. Kohli reported decision to retire from Test cricket has sent ripples through the Indian cricketing fraternity.
Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been a cornerstone of India's red-ball resurgence over the past decade. His aggressive captaincy, prolific batting and unmatched intensity have helped transform India into a formidable Test side both at home and abroad.
According to a report in the Times of India, Kohli has been conveying the important message regarding his future to the BCCI since April. It has also been reported that Virat had hinted at such a possibility multiple times to his teammates as well during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but with the team already under pressure, everyone felt it was a temporary frustration, speaking.
In nine outings during the five-match Test series in Australia, Kohli could manage just 190 runs, and 100 of those came in a single knock as he smashed a memorable century in the first Test at Perth.
It is to be noted that the BCCI have urged Virat to reconsider his decision regarding the Test retirement. If Kohli does not change his mind, he will end a brilliant career that has spanned over a decade and included 123 Tests, 68 of them as skipper. With over 9,000 runs and 30 centuries in the format, Kohli's presence at the crease has been nothing short of iconic.
The 36-year-old batter struggled for consistency in Australia. The century in Perth was his first hundred in Tests since July 2023, and his average, 55.1 at its peak after he scored his career best of 254 not out vs South Africa in Pune in 2019, has been 32.56 over the last two years.
The five-match Test series in England was considered a testing chapter for Virat during the end part of his career. The veteran batter gained massive confidence ahead of the big assignment, helping the Indian team clinch the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title.
Despite a low Test average, other reports suggest that the Indian team management expects Kohli’s experience to be important on the upcoming tour of England, where India will be playing under a new skipper after Rohit Sharma's retirement from the format.
Kohli's wish to retire has come as a massive surprise to the management, who had him in the scheme of things at least for England. The BCCI selection committee is expected to meet soon to announce the Indian squad for the England tour.