In a major development for Indian cricket, Virat Kohli has expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to reports from The Indian Express, the BCCI has requested Kohli to reconsider his decision, particularly in view of the upcoming five-Test series in England to begin from next month.
A source familiar with the matter stated, ”He has made up his mind and has informed the board that he is moving on from Test cricket. The BCCI has requested him to rethink as the crucial England tour is coming up. He is yet to revert on the request.”
End of an era? Kohli is yet to reply on BCCI request
Kohli has been considering his Test future since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, which took place earlier this week. He experienced a lean patch after hitting a century in the first Test. If Kohli finalises his decision to retire, and with Rohit Sharma already out, India will be left with a relatively inexperienced middle-order. The top order includes Shubham Gill, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant later down the order.
The BCCI plans to retain Kohli’s experience for the challenging upcoming England tour and has requested him to give a second thought to his decision. Kohli is yet to comment on the board’s request.
A BCCI official stated to IANS on condition of anonymity that Virat Kohli remains ”incredibly fit and motivated,” highlighting his continued impact within the team. ”His presence in the dressing room lifts the entire team.”
On Wednesday, India cricket team captain Rohit Sharma also announced his retirement from Test cricket format.
This development marks a crucial moment for the Indian Test cricket team as two legends stepping away from longest format of the game.