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In a dramatic turn of events, cricket fans were left stunned when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements in just six days. This decision unfolded amidst the IPL 2025 and the speculations surrounding India's squad selection for the upcoming England tour. The tension brewing behind the scenes went largely unnoticed by fans caught up in the excitement of the IPL matches.

The core of the issue centered on whether Kohli and Rohit would be included in the squad for the England tour. Despite their stellar IPL performances, whispers about their future in international cricket grew louder, especially as their form in the Test format had been under scrutiny. Both players were major figures in Indian cricket, and it was widely believed that they would continue playing for as long as they desired. However, the situation inside the selection committee was rapidly evolving.

According to sources, the head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar made the difficult decision to move on from both players. While their past successes, including titles like the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, were undeniable, their recent Test performances had left much to be desired. Their declining form in the longest format of the game, particularly during recent tours of New Zealand and Australia, made it clear that a change was needed. In the last Test series, Rohit Sharma's batting had been lackluster, with his highest score being just 10 runs in a series where India struggled, and his participation in the IPL as an impact player did not help his case. Kohli, too, had a rough patch after starting his Australia tour with a century, only to follow up with a poor run of form in subsequent matches.

Amidst this, a former top BCCI official took on the responsibility of informing both Kohli and Rohit of the decision. The discussion with them centered around the future of Indian cricket, and it was made clear that the team would be moving forward without them for the England tour. The pressure now rested on the selectors and coach to find a new direction for the team, with the upcoming cycle of the World Test Championship in focus.

The retirement announcement from both players came shortly after, with the cricketing world left to grapple with the question: Should players like Kohli and Rohit have announced their retirement more gracefully or while still playing on the field? This decision, while swift and surprising, marked a major shift in Indian cricket’s evolution.