Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, May 10: Multiple sources have confirmed that batting great Virat Kohli has conveyed his intention to retire from Test cricket to the BCCI, signaling the end of an iconic era in Indian cricket. The development comes months after Kohli reportedly hinted at being ‘done’ with the longest format during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

While his remarks during the tour weren’t taken seriously at the time largely attributed to a poor run of form and the grueling nature of the series Kohli seems to have made up his mind. In that four-Test series, he managed just 190 runs across nine innings, with a solitary hundred.

The focus soon shifted to the Champions Trophy, and Kohli’s possible retirement took a back seat. However, even before discussions began around the England Test tour, Kohli approached the BCCI to express his decision to walk away from red-ball cricket. The news reportedly surprised top officials, who had expected him to be part of the squad for the upcoming England series.

While Kohli had expressed a willingness to lead the team again, the BCCI was firm in its decision to look ahead. Shubman Gill has been identified as a future Test captain, with the board and coach Gautam Gambhir keen to build a consistent core for the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

“A new WTC cycle is starting. Future and continuity must be prioritized. Gautam Gambhir wants a squad he can work with long-term. There can’t be stop-gap solutions in such a crucial phase,” a source told TimesofIndia.com.

Though it's unclear whether form, leadership decisions, or both influenced Kohli’s decision, the absence of his name at No. 4 will be a jarring reality for Indian fans marking the end of a significant chapter in Test cricket history.