Virat Kohli Informs BCCI He Wants to Retire From Tests, Says Report

New Delhi: Cricketer Virat Kohli has reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his intention to retire from Test cricket. According to a report, Kohli has been contemplating the move for several months, and after much deliberation, conveyed his desire to the board. The BCCI, however, has urged the former captain to reconsider, especially with the high-stakes England tour scheduled for June, the report added. 

This comes at a time when Kohli, the fifth-highest run-scorer in Border-Gavaskar series history, has seen a marked dip in form over the last five years in Test cricket.

Between 2020 and 2025, Kohli has averaged below 35 in Test cricket, scoring 1,990 runs in 37 matches with only three centuries to his name. 

Speaking at a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) event in March, Kohli candidly addressed the mental toll of prolonged lean patches. “Once you start taking on the energy and the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more... And then you start thinking about things, like ‘I’ve got two or three days left on this tour, I need to make an impact now’. And you start getting more desperate,” he said. 

Since his debut in 2011, the right-hander has amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, including 29 centuries. 

Retirement Talks Follow Rohit Sharma’s Exit

Kohli’s potential exit follows closely on the heels of Rohit Sharma’s official retirement from Test cricket earlier this week. Rohit, India’s Test captain, made the announcement via Instagram, stating, “It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years.”

The BCCI later confirmed Rohit's decision, noting that he would continue representing India in ODIs.