Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket on May 12 after playing 123 Test matches for India and scoring 9230 runs. His Test career spanned nearly 15 years and he retired from the format as India's most successful Test captain.
Kohli lost the opportunity to score 10000-plus runs in ODI and Test cricket and becoming the first player since Kumar Sangakkara to do so. Former Indian cricketers think that Kohli's call to retire from the format came at the wrong time, as India will be playing an upcoming Test series against England.
Several reports say that Kohli wanted to spend more time with his young family, which is the reason why he considered retiring from Test cricket. Kohli's Test retirement call came within five days of Rohit Sharma's Test retirement. He announced his Test retirement on May 7.
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Now with both Kohli and Rohit retired, the BCCI has the tough task of identifying replacements for the senior duo ahead of the Test series against England. Shubman Gill is the front-runner to lead India in Test cricket, while the board has several options to seek Rohit and Kohli's replacements.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli had a confrontation with a fan on their way to Mumbai after attending the (Ekantik Vartalaap) with Premanand Ji Maharaj in his Ashram Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, Varah Ghat, in Vrindavan. Kohli was accompanied by his wife Anushka Sharma. As they were going to catch the flight, a fan questioned Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket.
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Watch - Virat Kohli's Confrontation With Fan At Airport
"Why did you retire sir? Only because of you I watched Test cricket. Now, I will not watch cricket."
To the question, Kohli first ignored and then said: "Jaane dijiye sir (Please let us go)."
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Virat Kohli's Statement On His Test Retirement
Kohli took to his official Instagram account to announce his Test retirement. He retired from the format despite the best efforts from the BCCI, as they requested him to rethink his decision.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life," he posted on Instagram.
"There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile," he added.
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