Virat Kohli’s Desire to Lead the Indian Test Team Again Reportedly Was Not Fulfilled, Amid Retirement Saga

Indian cricket team star Virat Kohli is considering Test retirement after the BCCI reportedly denied his wish to captain the team again.

Virat Kohli’s Desire to Lead the Indian Test Team Again Reportedly Was Not Fulfilled, Amid Retirement Saga

Virat Kohli reportedly decided to retire from Test cricket, after being denied captaincy role by the BCCI. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli has reportedly informed the BCCI that he is contemplating retirement from Test cricket. According to a source close to the BCCI, Kohli’s recent decision is motivated by the board’s alleged refusal to reinstate Kohli as the captain of the Indian Test team.

Virat Kohli has reportedly communicated to the BCCI that he seeks to end his illustrious 14-year Test career. Indian cricket now finds itself in the middle of an impending crisis following Kohli’s request, which comes just days after former captain Rohit Sharma called time on his red-ball career. Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been the face of India’s red-ball cricket, with over 9,000 runs in 123 matches. 

Kohli’s stint as India’s Test captain adds to his legacy, with the 36-year-old having guided India to 40 wins in the 68 Test matches that he led in. Kohli’s captaincy, which spanned from 2014 to 2021, ushered in an era of unchallenged dominance for the Indian Test side. This period saw landmark achievements such as India’s maiden Test series triumph in Australia, followed by series wins in England and South Africa.

Under Kohli’s leadership, the Men in Blue also achieved a remarkable feat on home soil, maintaining an unbeaten streak in Test matches for an impressive 11 years, from 2013 to 2024. However, he had to step down in January 2022, midway through India’s disappointing three-match tour to South Africa, with teammate Rohit Sharma being named captain subsequently.

With Sharma having retired from Test cricket following back-to-back series defeats for India, it has left a void in the team, in terms of experience and leadership. Despite expectations that Kohli would compete for a spot in the Test squad for the upcoming England tour, especially after a less successful 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he has reportedly communicated his intention to the BCCI to retire.

A close BCCI source disclosed that Virat Kohli had apparently expressed his interest in leading India, after three-year hiatus. However, the board did not fulfill this request, prompting the 36-year-old to signal the of his Test career for India. It has also been reported that head coach Gautam Gambhir is looking to work with a new Test captain and a long-term replacement, rather than relying on Virat Kohli as a temporary fix.

Despite declining Kohli’s wish to captain the side, BCCI officials are reportedly in talks with the 36-year-old, trying to persuade him to reconsider his decision to retire from Test cricket. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Shubman Gill has emerged as a frontrunner to become India’s next red-ball skipper.

Who would be India’s next No. 4 in Tests, should Virat Kohli retire?

Following reports of Virat Kohli having expressed his intention to retire from red-ball cricket, it leaves the Indian team in a conundrum over who would replace him. Several players have emerged as options to fill the no. 4 position, should Kohli indeed decide to end his Test career.

Virat Kohli Test replacement
Shreyas Iyer, Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan and Rajat Patidar could replace Virat Kohli as India’s new Test no. 4. (via ESPN Cricinfo)

While the opening partnership, is likely to feature Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, it will be the no. 3 and no. 4 positions that will be difficult to fill. Shubman Gill is expected to move up to no. 3, while Shreyas Iyer, who is in excellent form, is being seen as successor to Virat Kohli, at no. 4. The 30-year-old could make his comeback to the Indian red-ball setup, after being re-inducted in BCCI’s central contracts list. 

Apart from the Mumbai batter, a number of other players are also in contention for the No. 4 spot. Sai Sudharsan, Sarfaraz Khan, Rajat Patidar, and the experienced Karun Nair are among those hoping to secure a place in India’s red-ball squad for the upcoming tour of England.