Recent reports indicate that Virat Kohli has communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) his desire to retire from Test cricket. This news comes shortly after Rohit Sharma's announcement of his retirement from Test cricket. The BCCI has reportedly requested Kohli to reconsider his decision, particularly with India's upcoming five-match Test series against England. As of now, Kohli has not responded to the BCCI's request.

Kohli, 36, is considered one of the greatest batsmen of all time. He made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies. In his Test career, he has played 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 47, with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He also has 1,027 fours and 30 sixes in Test cricket. Kohli stands as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests and seventh most-capped Test player.

Kohli's captaincy, which lasted from 2014 to 2022, saw India win 40 out of 68 matches, making him India's most successful Test captain. He is also fourth on the list of captains with the most Test wins overall. Under his leadership, India achieved dominance at home and secured historic series wins overseas, including a notable victory in Australia in 2018-19.

In the World Test Championship (WTC) era from 2019 to the present, Kohli has scored 2,617 runs in 46 WTC matches, including 5 centuries and 11 fifties. He led India to the final of the inaugural WTC in 2019-21.

While Kohli has been a crucial part of the Indian team, recent years haven't been as productive for him in Test cricket. His century in the Perth Test in November 2024 was his first since July 2023. Since his highest score of 254* against South Africa in Pune in 2019, his average has fallen to 32.56 over the past two years from a peak of 55.10.

The possible departure of both Kohli and Sharma would create a significant void in the Indian team, especially ahead of the crucial series against England. The team management and selectors recognize the importance of Kohli's experience for the upcoming tour. Shubman Gill is considered a frontrunner to take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. With other senior players like R Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane also out of the mix, Kohli's presence is even more crucial.