Kohli asked for one thing, BCCI insists it is not possible; retirement news followed

MUMBAI: Everyone is eagerly waiting to see whether superstar Virat Kohli will play in the five-match Test series against England starting next month. Reports had earlier emerged that Kohli had also expressed his willingness to quit Test cricket following captain Rohit Sharma's decision to retire. However, the BCCI has reportedly asked Kohli to reconsider his decision to retire as they want a senior player in the team for the England tour.

Virat Kohli is keen to continue playing in the Test team. However, BCCI sources indicate that the 36-year-old Kohli has asked for the captaincy of the Test team in the wake of Rohit Sharma's retirement. However, the BCCI was not ready to accept Kohli's request. Virat Kohli expressed his willingness to retire from Test cricket with this.

Virat Kohli had previously stepped down as the captain of the Test team of his own free will. When he stepped down as the captain of the T20 team, the BCCI had asked the player to step down as the captain of the ODI team but continue as the captain of the Test team. However, after losing the captaincy of the ODI team, Kohli stepped down as the captain of the Test team as well. The 36-year-old player will not continue in Test cricket for much longer anyway. The player's form has also not been that good for some time, which the BCCI sees as an obstacle to handing over the captaincy to the player.

The BCCI and coach Gautam Gambhir are keen on bringing a young player to the captaincy to succeed Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are the frontrunners for the captaincy. KL Rahul is also being considered. The new cycle of the World Test Championship is starting in June. The BCCI is moving towards a decision to have a young player as the captain with the future in mind.