'We are not ready for this': Virat Kohli's Test retirement blocked by fans
Published - 10 May 2025, 10:57 AM | Updated - 10 May 2025, 12:48 PM
Table of Contents
Virat Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about his plans to retire from Test cricket. However, the top BCCI officials have reportedly requested Virat Kohli to reconsider, especially with an important tour of England just around the corner.
This news comes shortly after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the Test format earlier this week, raising serious questions about India's leadership and experience in the red-ball team. Kohli has reportedly been thinking about stepping away from Test cricket since his rough patch during the Australia tour earlier this year.
Virat Kohli decides to move on from Test cricket
If Virat sticks to his decision, the Indian middle order could be left with a lack of middle-order experience and see a major shift, with younger players stepping in alongside the likes of KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant.
BCCI sources were quoted as saying by The Indian Express, “He has made up his mind and has informed the board that he is moving on from Test cricket. The BCCI has urged him to rethink as the crucial England tour is coming up. He is yet to revert on the request.”
The 36-year-old Indian batting maestro has had a remarkable Test career, scoring 9,230 runs in 123 matches. But the last five years have seen a dip in form, as Kohli could muster just 1,990 runs in 37 Tests and only three centuries during that period.
His most recent Test outing in Australia added to the concerns. Across five tests, Kohli averaged just 23.75 and was dismissed eight times—seven of those to deliveries outside the off stump. The tour highlighted how even the most seasoned players can face persistent technical and mental challenges.
Read Also: Bengal Pro T20 League postponed indefinitely due to escalating India-Pakistan tensions
Here's how fans react to Virat Kohli's plans:
In the middle of war situation why would #ViratKohli think to retire from Test cricket! Fake news in my view ✍️ #ViratKohli𓃵 #BCCI #IndiaPakWar pic.twitter.com/9fN9mc70f9
— Hemant Batra (@hemantbatra0) May 10, 2025
Virat Kohli has told BCCI that he now wants to retire from Test cricket. This time BCCI has asked him to reconsider. This will be a big blow for Indian Test cricket, what do you think?#ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/YKt3SoJZJz
— Dushyant Kumar (@DushyantKrRawat) May 10, 2025
No @imVkohli
— Inferno (@inferno_speaks) May 10, 2025
This is not how you go
You have a lot left in you#ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #viratkholi pic.twitter.com/aOKOLvYHO1
विराट कोहली टेस्ट क्रिकेट से संन्यास ले
— Abhishek yadav BGN (@AbhishekBAGN68) May 10, 2025
सकते है ।#ViratKohli @imVkohli
An era ends
— Nikhil Kumar Singh (@nikhilktweets) May 10, 2025
Thank you, #ViratKohli𓃵 Kohli for the passion, grit, and unforgettable memories in Test cricket. Your legacy will inspire generations. 🏏👑
ThankYouVirat❤️#ViratKohli #ViratKohliretirement #IndiaPakistanWar #IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/7eznw3SwUv
Rohit ke chakkar me is sadmi ko t20 se retire karwaya gaya aur ab test se bhi karwaya jaa raha kitni gandi politics chal rahi hai #ViratKohli
— Siddhant Arya 🇮🇳 (@thesidarya) May 10, 2025
Virat Kohli informs BCCI he wants to retire from Tests before England tour.
— 🇮🇳Smruti Ranjan Pattanayak🇮🇳 (@smrutir02227760) May 10, 2025
🥰End of an era ROKO🙏🥺#ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #ViratKohliretirement #ROKO #IndiaPakistanWar #IndianArmy
Breaking News : Virat Kohli Wants Retirement From Test Cricket 😱💔💔🇮🇳
— Ahaan 🇮🇳 (@nayab4500) May 10, 2025
.
📸; bcci /Icc#viratkohli #rohitsharma #bcci #IndiaPakistanWar #IndianArmy #IMFSupportsTerrorism pic.twitter.com/za4SX6kMm1
No idolo nooo!
— R🦅 (@141ovalclassic) May 10, 2025
Won't retire without 50+ Avg, 10K+ runs, 35+ Hundreds and series victory in England, we can't be ready for that mann! Noo 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 #ViratKohli https://t.co/z6LCyV7kmS pic.twitter.com/EvaC9sj9kh
#viratkohli pic.twitter.com/SR75E9m6r8
— Parvej leader (@parvejleader) May 10, 2025
The cricket fan in me will be dead the second kohli retires from test cricket!!!
— Sidhvin (@RCBfan01) May 10, 2025
IPL n all are just for entertainment.... i can't watch india in whites without kohli being their.
One last series, i beg one last 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭#ViratKohli𓃵 #ViratKohli
@imVkohli
— Space11 (@Novalunosis111) May 10, 2025
If the rumours are True.
Then this is not the Virat kohli i used to idolize.
The Virat kohli i know doesn’t giveup like this.
Hope rumors are not true.
I believe in you.#ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵
According to TOI & Indian express Virat kohli is taking retirement from test cricket. Don't tell me this is true. Not ready for this.#ViratKohli
— Kapil Kaunteyaa (@kapil_kaunteyaa) May 10, 2025
During an RCB event earlier this year, Kohli had shared how the mental toll of recent failures weighed heavily on him. He spoke of the pressure to perform and the emotional strain of trying to make a mark before time runs out, hinting at making some tough calls on his career.
Virat Kohli opens up on mental struggles
Virat Kohli had said at that event, “I might not have another Australia tour in me in four years’ time. Once you start taking on the energy and the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more… And then you start thinking about things, like, ‘I’ve got two or three days left on this tour; I need to make an impact now.’ And you start getting more desperate. That’s something I’ve surely experienced in Australia as well.”
Notably, Kohli had already retired from T20I cricket after India’s T20 World Cup 2025 triumph in the USA and the West Indies last year. But in the ongoing IPL 2025, he showed he still has plenty of firepower, scoring 505 runs in just 11 matches with three fifties and a strong strike rate of 143.46.
About the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ... Read more
