In the last 48 hours, the BCCI and Indian cricket have faced tough times. Considering the current military strains between India and Pakistan,
The Indian Premier League 2025 was halted.
On Friday, and fewer than 24 hours afterward, the board received another unexpected shock when
Virat Kohli
, India’s premier cricket icon, communicated his wish to the BCCI regarding this decision.
retire from Test cricket
Even though Kohli informed the board of his desire to step back from a format he has ardently supported throughout his career, the news broke on Saturday morning, shocking former players, enthusiasts, and analysts alike.
Initially, there was optimism following various reports indicating that the BCCI was making every effort to persuade Kohli to reverse his choice. The Indian team is scheduled to embark on a five-match series against England beginning June 20 at Headingley. With both Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin having announced their retirements, this could significantly weaken the squad under the challenging English conditions. However, according to the Times of India, even so
please from legends like Brian Lara
and the board’s best efforts, Kohli has made up his mind and isn’t budging from his stance.
“Kohli had informed the selectors two weeks ago about his desire to quit Tests. They were trying to persuade him to play in the Test series against England. However, he is still firm on his stance. The final call will come close to the selection meeting next week,” TOI quoted a source as saying.
Virat Kohli knows best
Frankly speaking, Kohli’s decision not to heed the advice of the BCCI shouldn’t come as a shock. He has always been someone who sticks to his own convictions rather than being swayed by external opinions. Having spent so much time playing at an elite level and achieving legendary status, Kohli clearly understands what works best for himself. While the saying ‘only players truly know when they should step down’ might sound trite, it holds weight here. Now aged 36, Kohli finds himself nearing the end stage of his cricket career. Those dominating performances against the bowlers during Tests—like those seen in Australia back in 2014 and England in 2018—are now just memories from another era. Following a disappointing series in Australia—a campaign that began promisingly with a hundred in Perth—the team’s overall performance declined leading up to the upcoming 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy hosted again Down Under.
Also Read:
Agarkar’s swift response to Virat Kohli’s retirement intentions reveals a bleak scenario, with BCCI compelled to consider their final option.
Kohli’s susceptibility outside the off-stump has been a recurring flaw that opponents have consistently capitalized on, which only adds to his ongoing struggles. Reflecting on his performance during the second innings of the Sydney Test, Kohli edged Scott Boland to second slip. In frustration, he hit his pads with his bat as he headed back to the pavilion. There were reports suggesting that Kohli remarked ‘I am finished’ following India’s series loss to Australia, though this wasn’t taken too seriously at first. If he truly decided to step away, then participating for Delhi in subsequent matches would indeed seem contradictory.
Ranji Trophy game versus Haryana
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in February. However, his presence confirmed the belief that Kohli was not planning to leave.
However, consider this additional point: Father Time spares nobody. Inevitably, he ensnare his prey sooner or later. The solid lower grip that used to be Kohli’s greatest asset—his envied wrist work that everyone else coveted—is now becoming his downfall repeatedly. Numerous players have preceded Kohli into retirement without achieving what they might have hoped. At the Champions Trophy, during their exchange, when Kohli queried about “the last game” and Smith affirmed with “Yes,” Virat’s expression conveyed more emotion than anything shown by the legendary Australian player could express.
Should Kohli decide to step down, with news potentially emerging within the coming week when the BCCI unveils India’s team roster for the upcoming five-Test match series against England along with naming their new Test captain, he would find himself sharing similar circumstances with legends like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag—great players who didn’t receive a dedicated farewell match representing India.
Find more stories like this by reading additional news articles.
WARNEWS
