Virat Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his intention to retire from Test cricket, just before India’s significant five-match series against England, commencing on 20th June. Sources from ESPNcricinfo suggest that Kohli has been in discussions with BCCI officials about this decision over the past month.
Should Kohli decide to step down, it would mark the end of an illustrious 14-year Test career. Across 123 Tests—68 as captain—he has amassed 9230 runs, averaging 46.85. However, his recent performance has seen a dip. His last century came in the Perth Test in November 2024, marking his first since July 2023 against the West Indies. His average, once peaking at 55.10 post his career-best score of 254 not out against South Africa in 2019, has fallen to 32.56 over the past two years.
Nonetheless, the team’s management and selectors believe Kohli’s experience will be vital for the England tour, especially as India appoints a new captain. Following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket earlier this week, Shubman Gill appears poised to take up the mantle.
India will also be without R Ashwin, who retired following the 2024-25 series against Australia. With key players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane currently not selected, and Mohammed Shami’s form under review after a lengthy injury, Kohli remains one of the senior figures alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah.
Under Kohli’s captaincy, India recorded 40 victories out of 68 Tests, with only 17 losses. This achievement establishes him as India’s most successful Test captain by wins, surpassing MS Dhoni’s 27 from 60 games and Sourav Ganguly’s 21 from 49. On a global scale, Kohli ranks fourth in Test wins, behind Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh.
England holds special significance for Kohli. On their 2018 tour, he excelled as the highest run-scorer, amassing 583 runs at an average of 59.30, including two centuries. This performance was particularly noteworthy as it followed a challenging 2014 tour where he managed only 134 runs in ten innings. The year 2018 was also his most prolific, with a total of 1322 runs.
Between 2016 and 2018, Kohli was in exceptional form, averaging 66.59 over 35 Tests with 14 centuries and eight fifties. His averages of 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, and 68.00 in 2019 highlight a dominant period in his career.
More updates to follow.
