Virat Kohli surprised the cricket world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket on May 12. He was scheduled to play in India’s five-match tour of England, which begins on June 20. However, the 36-year-old decided it was time to move on from the format he enjoyed the best.
Virat Kohli has struggled with red-ball cricket in recent seasons.
Since 2024, the former India captain has only scored 440 runs in 11 Tests, an average of 23.16. During this time, he only registered one fifty and one century. Fans hoped that he would regain his form for the forthcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-2027 cycle.
Former India head coach Greg Chappell believes Kohli’s decision to withdraw from Test cricket resulted from a lack of mental clarity. According to Chappell, the legendary batter recognised that his body was faltering because his head was out of rhythm with it.
“His choice sprang not from diminishing skill, but from the dawning understanding that he could no longer summon the mental clarity that had once made him so powerful. He acknowledged that, at the greatest level, unless the mind is sharp and resolute, the body falters,” Chappell said in his piece.
“When doubt settles in the bones, it distorts decision-making, hinders footwork, and saps the spontaneity required for high performance. Kohli’s retirement serves as a reminder that form is more of a mental function than a physical one,” Chapell noted.
Kohli, who retired from T20I cricket before moving on to Test cricket, will continue to represent the Men in Blue in ODIs. The Delhi hitter finished with a solid Test record, scoring 9230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85. Throughout his lengthy career, he registered 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
In his absence, India will consider possibilities for playing at No. 4 in the longest version of the tournament. Karun Nair could be the favourite after making a brilliant double century in a recent four-day match between India A and the England Lions. Shubman Gill, India’s new Test captain, who has recently batted at No. 3, could also slip to No. 4.
India
