Test cricket will be devoid of it's truest flagbearer Virat Kohli and fans are still trying to process the fact that the superstar batter has retired from the longest format of the game. India's Test set-up is going through a big transition, after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's suddent retirement. Kohli is widely regarded as India's premier modern-day Test batter. Speculation has arisen, with some reports suggesting that a family directive from the BCCI influenced Kohli's decision to consider retirement. Amidst these rumors, former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has now made a surprising revelation.
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Mohammed Kaif on Virat Kohli's Test retirement
Virat Kohli initially intended to continue playing Test cricket, a notion seemingly supported by his participation in the Ranji Trophy 2025. However, Kaif claimed that Kohli had internal discussions with the BCCI and selectors, during which concerns were raised about his continued place in the Test side due to his recent form.
“I think he wanted to continue in the format. There must have been some internal talks with the BCCI, the selectors may have cited his form in the past 5-6 years and told him his spot in the team may no longer be there. We will never find out what happened, it is very difficult to guess what actually took place behind the scenes," Kaif told IANS.
“But given the last-minute decision, having played the Ranji trophy, I definitely think he wanted to come back in the upcoming Tests. The developments in the last few weeks, he may not have gotten the support he thought he will get from BCCI and selectors which he may not have gotten,” Kaif added.
Adding to his earlier statement, Mohammed Kaif also observed that Virat Kohli appeared to be in a rush to accumulate runs during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Kaif noted a pattern in Kohli's dismissals, frequently edging the ball to the slips while attempting the cover drive. According to Kaif's assessment, this apparent lack of patience might have stemmed from Kohli's perception that he was in the final stages of his career
“In the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he looked in a hurry to score runs. You have to stay out for hours and grind in Test cricket, which he has done in the past but the constant edging of the ball moving away from him while attempting to drive, made me feel his patience was a bit less. Maybe he was thinking ‘I am in the last phase of my career what's the point of scoring a gritty century, there used to be a different level of patience on display from him before, he used to leave the balls, take his time, tire the bowlers and then took them down but I did not see that from him in Australia',” the former India's star batter concluded.
Virat Kohli holds the record of being India's most successful captain in Test cricket, having led the team to wins in 40 of the 68 Test matches he oversaw. This achievement also places him fourth on the list of captains with the most Test wins overall. Only three other captains have recorded more Test win than Kohli, Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41). Under Kohli's leadership, India experienced only 17 defeats. He also guided the team to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, where they ultimately lost to New Zealand.