This week, a definitive answer is expected on one of the biggest questions hanging over Indian cricket—will Virat Kohli tour England for the high-stakes five-Test series, or has the curtain truly fallen on a storied red-ball career?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), still hopeful of a change of heart, has been in dialogue with the former Test captain since he first communicated his desire to retire from the format. But sources suggest Kohli remains firm in his decision, even after the board requested a reconsideration following Rohit Sharma’s own retirement from Tests.
BCCI to make last-ditch effort to convince Kohli
“Kohli had informed the selectors two weeks ago (about his desire to quit Tests). They were trying to persuade him to play in the Test series against England. However, he is still firm on his stance. The final call will come close to the selection meeting next week,” sources said to the Times of India.
Kohli reportedly informed selectors of his intent to walk away from Tests nearly two weeks ago. That basically means it was during the IPL 2025 when the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star made up his mind. It is quite fascinating as to why Kohli wants to retire after the BCCI rolled out the new central contracts. Nonetheless, the entire Indian cricketing fraternity wants the superstar to continue and perhaps hunt for another successful England tour that starts from June 20.
With Shubman Gill tipped to lead a transitional squad, the selectors believe Kohli’s presence could be massive, even if his recent Test form has been underwhelming. Despite his lean returns—just 190 runs in nine innings during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he was dismissed eight times playing at deliveries outside off stump—the selectors are not ready to let go. His experience, especially in challenging English conditions, is seen as irreplaceable. However, Kohli is believed to have hinted at retirement multiple times during the BGT series, comments that weren’t taken seriously at the time.
| Player | Inns | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahul Dravid | 56 | 2645 | 217 | 55.10 | 8 | 15 |
| Virat Kohli | 73 | 2637 | 149 | 40.56 | 3 | 18 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 56 | 2626 | 193 | 49.54 | 7 | 12 |
| Rohit Sharma | 53 | 2287 | 140 | 50.82 | 9 | 10 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 42 | 1949 | 183 | 47.53 | 4 | 12 |
If Kohli doesn’t budge, the selectors may turn to Shreyas Iyer or Karun Nair to plug the No. 4 gap, while Rajat Patidar is likely to come in for Sarfaraz Khan. But for now, all eyes are on the decision expected in the coming days.
