Virat Kohli Informs BCCI of Test Retirement Ahead of England Tour: Reports
NEW DELHI, May 10, 2025 – In a major development, former India captain Virat Kohli has reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his intention to retire from Test cricket before the upcoming England tour, sources told India Today.
The five-Test series against England, beginning June 20, is likely to proceed without Kohli, who communicated his decision to the board earlier this week. A top BCCI official has since urged Kohli to reconsider, but the star batter appears firm in his stance. This news comes just days after Rohit Sharma announced his own retirement from Test cricket.
Kohli’s decision is a significant moment for Indian cricket, especially with the upcoming series marking the start of a new World Test Championship cycle. The squad for the England tour is expected to be finalized by the end of May.
Kohli has had a challenging Test season, struggling for form during India’s recent tour of Australia. He managed only 190 runs across five Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with a lone century in Perth but poor performances in the remaining matches. His repeated dismissals to deliveries outside off stump raised fresh questions about his future in the longest format.
Having played 123 Tests and scored 9,230 runs with 30 centuries, Kohli’s exit would leave a significant void in India’s Test batting lineup. With both Kohli and Rohit now out of the picture, the responsibility will fall on younger players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill.
Kohli had previously hinted at stepping back from long tours, especially after his difficult stint in Australia. Despite his struggles in Tests, Kohli remained in strong form in the now-suspended IPL 2025, scoring 505 runs in 11 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore.