Virat Kohli has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he wishes to retire from Test cricket ahead of this summer’s series in England, Sky Sports News understands.
The BCCI declined to comment when approached by Sky Sports News but did not dispute that Kohli had informed them of his retirement plans.
It is understood the 36-year-old told chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April of his desire to step away before the start of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle in June.
Agarkar and another BCCI official are set to meet Kohli again but those plans are in limbo due to escalating tensions on the India-Pakistan border.
India will face Ben Stokes’ team in five matches, starting at Headingley on June 20 and concluding at The Kia Oval from July 31.
Kohli has scored 9,230 runs, including 30 hundreds and 31 half-centuries, at an average of 46.85 in his 123 Tests, 68 games of which were as captain.
The batter has only averaged a shade over 32 in Test cricket in the last two years and his century against Australia last November was his first since July 2023.
Still, India had earmarked Kohli’s experience as key against England, particularly with captain Rohit Sharma having just retired from Test cricket himself.
A source told Sky Sports News that Kohli informed the BCCI of his plans before Rohit retired but feels it is the right time to step away.
Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to replace Rohit as skipper, even though star seam bowler Jasprit Bumrah is the vice-captain and stood in for Rohit in Australia when he missed the first Test on paternity leave and dropped himself for the fifth.
England vs India Test schedule
All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports
- First Test: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – Headingley
- Second Test: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – Edgbaston
- Third Test: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’s
- Fourth Test: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Emirates Old Trafford
- Fifth Test: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval
