Virat Kohli Considers Retirement from Test Cricket Ahead of England Series

Virat Kohli has reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his desire to retire from Test cricket ahead of India's upcoming five-match series in England, starting June 20. Kohli, who is expected to be part of the squad for the tour, has been in discussions with BCCI officials regarding his decision for the past month.

If Kohli follows through with this decision, it will mark the end of an illustrious 14-year career in Test cricket, during which he has played 123 Tests, 68 of them as captain, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. Despite a stellar career, his recent performances in the format have been less consistent. His century against Australia in Perth in November 2024 was his first Test ton since July 2023, and his average has dipped to 32.56 in the past two years, down from a peak of 55.10 following his career-best score of 254* against South Africa in 2019.

However, Kohli's experience is still considered vital for India's Test squad, especially with the team facing a leadership transition. Shubman Gill is seen as the frontrunner to take over from Rohit Sharma, who retired from Test cricket earlier this week. Kohli, along with Rohit, was placed in the highest category (A+) in the latest BCCI contracts, which usually applies to players who play all three formats. Should Kohli retire from Tests, he would likely continue to represent India in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) only.

The Indian squad is already missing other experienced players like R Ashwin, who retired during the 2024-25 series in Australia, and the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. With Mohammed Shami's form under scrutiny, Kohli’s senior presence, alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, will be critical for India’s prospects.

Kohli has enjoyed many highlights in his Test career, including a remarkable 2018 series in England, where he was the top scorer across both teams, with 583 runs at an average of 59.30. His golden years from 2016 to 2018 saw him average over 75 in two consecutive years, cementing his status as one of the game's premier batsmen.

Kohli’s potential retirement would be a significant moment in the history of Indian cricket, as he has been a defining figure of the team’s Test cricket success for over a decade.

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