The last 48 hours have been turbulent for Indian cricket and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). On Friday, the BCCI announced the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 due to escalating military tensions between India and Pakistan. Within less than a day, Indian cricket was rocked again—this time by Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket. The star batter, often regarded as the face of Indian cricket, officially informed the BCCI of his decision, marking the end of an era. Although Kohli had expressed his intentions earlier, the news became public on Saturday morning, sending shockwaves through the cricketing world. Fans, former cricketers, and pundits were left stunned as the legendary cricketer bids farewell to the longest format of the game he so passionately championed throughout his career.
BCCI’s Efforts to Convince Virat Kohli Fail Ahead of India’s England Tour 2025
Hopes were high when reports surfaced suggesting that the BCCI was making every possible effort to persuade Virat Kohli to reconsider his decision to retire from Test cricket. With India’s crucial five-match Test series against England set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Kohli’s departure comes at a challenging time. The Indian squad has already been hit hard by the retirements of key players Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, leaving the team potentially vulnerable in England’s tough playing conditions. According to the Times of India, even personal appeals from cricketing legend Brian Lara and strong lobbying from the BCCI couldn’t change Kohli’s mind. Despite the board’s best attempts, Kohli remains firm in his decision to step away from the longest format of the game.
