Mohammad Kaif sheds light on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement, says he might not have received support from selectors and BCCI

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has opened up on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement. Kohli batter said it wasn’t an easy decision for him but feels it is the right one, while taking to Instagram on Monday.

The former Indian captain amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. In the last 69 Test innings since 2020, Kohli has managed only 2028 runs at an average of 30.72, including just three centuries.

Before 2020, Kohli accumulated 7202 runs in 141 Test innings at an average of 54.97, including 27 centuries. After the Border-Gavaskar series, Kohli also featured in the Ranji Trophy game for Delhi and thus his retirement came as a shock for many experts.

“Given the last minute decision, having played the Ranji trophy, I definitely think he wanted to come back in the upcoming Tests. The developments in the last few weeks, he may have not gotten the support he thought he will get from BCCI and selectors which he may not have gotten,” Kaif said as quoted by NDTV.

“I think he wanted to continue in the format. There must have been some internal talks with the BCCI, the selectors may have cited his form in the past 5-6 years and told him his spot in the team may no longer be there. We will never find out what happened, it is very difficult to guess what actually took place behind the scenes,” he added.

Kohli scored 190 runs in five Test matches on the Australian tour and was continuously troubled by the outside off-stump line, getting dismissed while trying to play through the covers. Kaif noted that Kohli looked in a hurry to score his runs in Australia.

“In the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he looked in a hurry to score runs. You have to stay out for hours and grind in Test cricket, which he has done in the past but the constant edging of the ball moving away from him while attempting to drive, made me feel his patience was a bit less,” he explained.

Kohli will be seen in action in IPL 2025 for RCB.