India legend Virat Kohli indicates desire to retire from Test cricket ahead of England tour

According to ESPNcricinfo, Kohli has been engaged in conversations with top BCCI officials for the past month, signalling his intent to step away before India's upcoming Test series in England starting this June. While no formal announcement has been made, team management reportedly hopes the veteran batter will reconsider, given the significance of the England tour and the leadership transition underway.

India will be led by a new Test captain in the absence of Rohit Sharma, who confirmed his retirement from the format earlier this week. Shubman Gill is believed to be the frontrunner to take over the role. In that context, Kohli's experience is seen as invaluable-not only as a batter but as a senior figure in a largely transitional squad.

Kohli, 36, has played 123 Tests, scoring 9230 runs at an average of 46.85. He captained India in 68 of those matches, winning 40 and losing just 17, making him the most successful Test captain in the country's history. Globally, only Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh have registered more Test victories as captains.

However, his recent Test form has been less prolific. Since scoring a career-best 254 not out against South Africa in 2019, Kohli's average has dipped to 32.56 over the past two years. His century against Australia in Perth last November was his first in the format in nearly 16 months.

Despite the statistical downturn, Kohli remains part of the BCCI's top-tier central contract list - typically reserved for players active across all three formats. But with both Kohli and Rohit retiring from T20Is following India's World Cup win last year, and the prospect of a Test exit looming, the pair may now be available only for ODIs.

The potential loss of Kohli comes at a time of significant flux for the Indian Test side. Alongside Rohit, senior players like R Ashwin (retired), and out-of-favour veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, have either stepped away or been phased out. Mohammed Shami's fitness and form remain uncertain, leaving the likes of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah as the remaining senior pillars.

Kohli's record in England adds poignancy to the timing of his possible farewell. His struggles in the 2014 tour were followed by redemption in 2018, when he led all scorers with 583 runs at an average of 59.30. That series remains one of his finest performances in Tests.

Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli was in elite company - scoring 3596 runs in 35 Tests at an average of 66.59, with 14 centuries and eight fifties. His intensity, fitness standards, and leadership reshaped the Indian Test side into one of the most competitive outfits at home and abroad.

If he follows through with retirement, Kohli will leave behind a legacy not just of numbers but of impact - setting new benchmarks for professionalism and ambition in Indian Test cricket.