(Image source from: Instagram.com/virat.kohli)
Virat Kohli, the prominent batsman and former captain of India, has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he has decided to retire from Test cricket. This announcement was made to the board earlier this week. Kohli is expected to withdraw from the forthcoming five-match Test series in England. Reports indicate that a senior BCCI official has urged Kohli to reconsider his choice. Nonetheless, the final decision will rest with the selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar during their upcoming meeting. The Test series is scheduled to kick off on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. This development follows shortly after Rohit Sharma's announcement of his retirement from the longest format of the game. During the recent tour to Australia, Kohli accumulated 190 runs over nine innings, with an average of 23.75, having only one significant performance—a century in the Perth Test.
If Kohli remains firm on his decision, India may enter the England tour with a relatively inexperienced team. The BCCI has yet to appoint a new Test captain. With uncertainty surrounding Jasprit Bumrah's fitness upon his return, Shubman Gill has emerged as a strong candidate for the captaincy. Should Kohli proceed with his retirement, he will conclude his Test career as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in this format. Since making his Test debut in 2011, he has amassed 9,230 runs from 123 matches with an impressive average of 46.85, which includes 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. Despite a disappointing series in 2014, Kohli improved his performance in England, accumulating 1,096 runs across 17 Test matches within that country, boasting an average of 33.21, along with two centuries and five fifties.
Kohli assumed the role of Test captain from MS Dhoni in 2014 and achieved 40 victories out of 68 matches, marking a win percentage of 58.82, which is the best among Indian captains who have led in five or more Tests. Under his command, India secured the Border-Gavaskar Trophy during the 2018-19 series held in Australia.
