Ejoo writer
Virat Kohli tells BCCI that he wants to retire from Test cricket
Virat Kohli has told the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) that he wants to retire from Test cricket. This news comes just before India’s important five-match Test series in England, starting on June 20, 2025. Even though Kohli has shared his retirement plans, the selectors still expect him to be part of the squad for this tour.
Kohli has been talking about retirement with BCCI officials for the past month. If he goes through with it, it will be the end of a fantastic 14-year Test career. Over these years, Kohli has played 123 Test matches and scored 9,230 runs with an average of 46.85. He also captained India in 68 of those matches, making him one of the most successful Indian Test captains ever.
Kohli’s Recent Form in Test Matches
In recent years, Kohli has not performed as well as before in Test cricket. When he scored 100 not out in the Perth Test in November 2024, it was his first Test century since July 2023, when he scored a hundred against the West Indies.
At his peak, Kohli had an impressive batting average of 55.10, especially after scoring his career-best 254 not out against South Africa in Pune in 2019. However, over the past two years, his average has dropped to 32.56. This decline has raised questions about his future in the format, but the team management still values his experience and leadership, especially on the upcoming England tour.
Latest News:- PCB Shifts Remaining HBL PSL X Matches to UAE
A New Captain for India in Tests
India will not only face the challenge of playing England in their home conditions but will also be doing so under a new Test captain. Shubman Gill is the leading candidate to become the next Test captain after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week.
Even though India is going through a transition phase, the selectors believe Kohli’s presence will provide much-needed stability. His experience on tough overseas tours, like England, makes him a valuable asset to the team, even if he plans to retire after the series.
Kohli’s Place in the BCCI Contracts
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were recently placed in the A+ category of the BCCI’s central contracts. This category is meant for players who regularly play in all three formats — Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
However, after India’s T20 World Cup win last year, both Kohli and Rohit retired from T20Is. If Kohli now retires from Tests, it means he will only play ODI cricket for India. This would significantly reduce his workload, but it also marks the closing of an important chapter in Indian Test cricket.
Other Senior Players Missing from the Team
India’s Test team is going through many changes. Along with Rohit Sharma’s retirement, senior spinner R. Ashwin also retired during the 2024-25 Australia series. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, two experienced batters, are not currently part of the team setup.
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami has also struggled to regain form after returning from a long injury break. With so many senior players missing or under pressure, Kohli is one of the few experienced names left, alongside KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Kohli’s Record as India’s Test Captain
Virat Kohli’s time as India’s Test captain was historic. He led India in 68 Test matches, winning 40 of them and losing just 17. This record makes him India’s most successful Test captain of all time. For comparison, MS Dhoni won 27 out of 60 matches as captain, and Sourav Ganguly won 21 out of 49.
On the global stage, Kohli ranks fourth among Test captains with the most wins. He is behind South Africa’s Graeme Smith (53 wins), Australia’s Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Australia’s Steve Waugh (41 wins). Kohli’s leadership helped India become one of the strongest Test teams in the world during his captaincy years.
Special Memories from England
England holds a special place in Kohli’s career. On the 2018 tour of England, Kohli was the top run-scorer across both teams. He scored 583 runs at an average of 59.30, including two centuries.
This performance was especially meaningful because, during his previous England tour in 2014, Kohli had struggled badly, scoring just 134 runs in ten innings. His comeback in 2018 showed his growth as a player and leader. The year 2018 was also his best overall year in Test cricket, where he scored 1,322 runs.
Kohli’s Golden Years
Kohli’s best years in Test cricket were between 2016 and 2019. In 2016, he averaged an incredible 75.93. In 2017, he averaged 75.64. In 2018, he averaged 55.08, and in 2019, he averaged 68.00.
During the 2016–2018 period, Kohli scored 3,596 runs in just 35 Tests, averaging 66.59. He also hit 14 centuries and eight fifties in 58 innings. These years are often called his “golden period,” where he was one of the best batters in the world, dominating both home and away.
The Importance of Kohli’s Experience
Even though Kohli is not scoring as freely as he once did, his experience remains crucial for the Indian team. Overseas tours, especially in tough conditions like England, require not just skill but also mental strength and experience.
With many senior players gone, Kohli’s role in guiding young players becomes even more important. He can help the next generation understand how to handle pressure, how to play in challenging conditions, and how to stay focused during long tours.
What’s Next for Kohli?
If Kohli goes through with his retirement plans, it will mark the end of one of the greatest Test careers in Indian cricket history. Fans will remember him not only for his runs and centuries but also for the aggressive, fearless style he brought to the team as a captain.
Moving forward, Kohli will likely focus only on ODI cricket. This could help him extend his international career by reducing his physical workload. India will look to him for leadership and runs in the upcoming ODI tournaments, even as the Test team enters a new era under younger players.
