BCCI hope to reverse Kohli's Test retirement plans

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly concerned about Virat Kohli’s potential decision to retire from Test cricket. A senior BCCI official is expected to meet Kohli soon in an effort to persuade him to continue playing the longest format of the game.

This high-level discussion is set to take place before the selection meeting for India's upcoming Test squad, scheduled around May 23. While the exact venue for the selection meeting has not yet been finalized, the BCCI is also planning a press conference to announce the name of the new Test captain. Additionally, the ‘India A’ squad for the England tour is expected to be revealed in the coming days.

The BCCI has successfully influenced player decisions in the past through direct dialogue — most notably with Rohit Sharma before his captaincy decisions. It is believed a similar approach will be taken in Kohli’s case.

Although there is no official confirmation yet regarding Kohli’s final decision, BCCI remains hopeful that he can be convinced to delay retirement, at least temporarily. Kohli is currently just 770 runs short of reaching the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket, with a tally of 9,230 runs from 123 Tests. He also captained India in 68 of those matches.

Initially, it was thought that Kohli might skip only the England series. However, recent developments suggest that he may be contemplating a permanent exit from the format — a significant move given his past contributions in reviving global interest in Test cricket.

While Shubman Gill is being considered as a potential new Test captain, many believe that Kohli’s experience would be invaluable in a challenging series like the one against England. Despite a modest Test record in English conditions — 1,096 runs in 17 matches at an average of 33.21, including two centuries and five fifties — his presence could offer both stability and leadership.