Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket Ahead of England Series

Kohli's Surprising Decision

Virat Kohli has shocked the cricket community by declaring his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, just weeks before India's five-match series against England. This unexpected move has led many to speculate that Kohli chose to step down to avoid the risk of being dropped from the team.

Traditionally, renowned Indian cricketers like VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and even Kohli himself concluded their Test careers in Australia. While they did not make formal retirement announcements at the time, it was evident that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had sidelined them to prevent the humiliation of being excluded.

This time, Kohli opted to retire on his own terms. He reportedly feared that if his performance against England fell short, the selectors might make the decision for him. A senior source from the BCCI emphasized that Kohli's status as a cricket legend warranted respect. However, had he underperformed in England, both the media and fans would have likely called for his retirement regardless.

Kohli's previous tour of England in 2014 was challenging, but he rebounded impressively in 2018 and 2021. He was on track to become the first Indian captain to secure Test victories in both Australia and England, but the pandemic thwarted his opportunity. Since early 2020, Kohli's Test performance has seen a decline, averaging just 30.72 over his last 39 matches, with three centuries in 69 innings. His career average dropped from the mid-50s during the 2010s to 46.85 at the time of his retirement.

Throughout his career, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs for India across 210 innings, ranking him among the top run-scorers. As captain, he led India in 68 Tests from 2014 to 2022, achieving 40 victories.

Kohli's IPL Performance

As the IPL 2025 season was paused on May 9, Kohli was in outstanding form for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), having played 11 matches and scored 505 runs at an impressive average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46, including seven half-centuries. The match between RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru was interrupted by rain. Currently, RCB leads the table with 17 points, having won 8 out of their 12 matches.

With two matches left, RCB aims to secure a top-two finish, although the absence of key players like Josh Hazlewood, who has taken 18 wickets in 10 games, could pose challenges.