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New Delhi: Virat Kohli has reportedly conveyed to the Board of Control for India (BCCI) that he wants to retire from Test cricket before India’s upcoming tour of England. India is scheduled to take on England in a five-match Test series starting May 20, their first assignment in the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

While Rohit Sharma has already announced his retirement ahead of the England tour, Kohli has also expressed his desire to call time on his career in the whites. However, the senior Indian batter is yet to officially announce his decision. Kohli has been reportedly contemplating retirement for a while now and had hinted to his teammates about quitting Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2025 against Australia.

As per a report in the Times of India, Kohli had told his Indian teammates that ‘he is done’ with Test cricket during the Australia series, dropping hints that he wanted to quit the longest format. Many didn’t take him seriously at the time. Kohli also had a disappointing time with the bat, managing only 190 runs in the series, including a solitary century.

The report also adds that Kohli offered to return as captain of the Test team, but his request was denied as the team management and the BCCI wanted to groom a young leader for the future. Kohli had offered to become captain on an interim basis during the Australia Test series when the team was in crisis. However, Jasprit Bumrah led the team in two Tests in Rohit’s absence.

“A new WTC cycle is starting. Future and continuity have to be kept in mind as far as the team is concerned. Even coach Gautam Gambhir would want a set of players he is likely to work with for an extended period. There can’t be any stop-gap solutions for such an important series. The last two series haven’t been ideal for the team, and the England series is crucial,” a source was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Shubman Gill favourite to replace Rohit Sharma as Test captain

Shubman Gill is reportedly the favourite to become India’s next Test captain after Rohit left the captaincy and retired from the longest format. Gill is currently India’s no.3 and is a vital cog in the batting line-up. Gill has so far played 32 Tests in his career and has amassed 1893 runs at an average of over 35, including five centuries and 7 fifties. Gill also has the backing of head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management for the role.