Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket

MUMBAI: Following Rohit Sharma's retirement from Test cricket, former India captain Virat Kohli has also announced his retirement from the format. The announcement came amid ongoing discussions regarding the Indian squad for the upcoming tour of England. Kohli shared the news through a social media post, stating that this was the right time to step away from Test cricket.

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Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had earlier retired from the T20 format together following India's World Cup victory. With Kohli now following Rohit into retirement, India will have to face England in the upcoming Test series with a less experienced batting lineup. The Test series is set to begin on June 20.

Kohli, who had been struggling to return to his peak form in recent games, managed just one century in the last Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Although Kohli had expressed interest in reclaiming the captaincy after the disappointing series against Australia, the BCCI reportedly preferred to focus on new leadership rather than reappoint him.

With Rohit and Ravichandran Ashwin retiring, and senior players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane no longer on the selection radar, and Mohammad Shami's form under scrutiny, Kohli’s presence in the squad would have been crucial for India. Kohli also holds an impressive record in English conditions, making his absence even more significant.