Why Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket without meeting BCCI officials; new report reveals

Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week. He took to his official social media handles to share the news with his friends and followers. It came as a surprise to everyone as Kohli was expected to tour England for the upcoming five-match series and had even practiced during the Ranji Trophy in January.

After a disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia, Kohli came back and played a Ranji game for Delhi to find his groove. However, the former India captain dropped a bombshell in the middle of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, calling it quits in red-ball cricket. Several reports have emerged since Kohli’s retirement speculating on his sudden move that shocked the nation.

Why Virat Kohli retired without meeting BCCI officials? 

Kohli’s sudden decision to retire from Test cricket shocked fans but it wasn’t taken in a hurry. According to a Cricbuzz report, Kohli had a long conversation with former India head coach Ravi Shastri before making the final call. The two have shared a strong bond over the years. “It is understood that Kohli spoke to Ravi Shastri, his friend, philosopher, guide and mentor, before taking the call,” it said.

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The report also claimed that Kohli had already made up his mind to step away from Test cricket but the announcement could have been delayed if certain meetings with the BCCI had taken place.

The report revealed that Kohli was expected to meet former BCCI secretary Jay Shah and current vice-president Rajeev Shukla before making the decision official. However, due to the recent military tensions between India and Pakistan, these meetings may not have happened.

“The buzz around the ecosystem is that he had decided to leave Test cricket a long time ago. He was to speak to Jay Shah, the former BCCI secretary, too but one is not sure if that conversation has happened at all. There was to be a meeting between him and Rajeev Shukla, an influential figure in the BCCI. But that may not have taken place because of the recent border tensions.”

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Kohli will next be seen in action during the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday. The IPL 2025 resumes after a one-week break with the RCB vs KKR game in Bengaluru. It was suspended due to the India-Pakistan conflict on 8 May. It is Kohli’s first cricket appearance since announcing Test retirement.