Why Virat Kohli walked away and the challenges it presents for Indian Test cricket

Over the course of multiple peaks and troughs, and through thousands of cricketing battles during a turbulent 14-year Test career, Virat Kohli usually stuck to his guns. So it was with his retirement, as he resisted requests to pad up for one more series in England, foregoing the temptation of a farewell Test.A fortnight after he first expressed his desire to retire from the longest format to chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Kohli brought the curtains down on a stellar career spanning 123 Tests, in which he scored 9,230 runs and 30 tons.“I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way,” Kohli wrote in an Instagram post announcing his decision.His decision has taken the Indian cricket board (BCCI) by surprise. While he has been struggling for runs in the format for a while, the selectors felt his experience was needed for India’s upcoming 5-Test England tour next month. medium121138402BCCI couldn’t get him to stay TOI has learned that Kohli had a talk with Agarkar even before Rohit Sharma, who retired from Tests last week, discussed his plans with the board and selectors. While with Rohit, the selectors and team management were contemplating moving on from him in Tests, in Kohli’s case it was difficult to change his mind.When the Indian team was struggling in Australia late last year, it appeared Kohli was amenable to again being at the wheel. He was more involved in decision-making on the field and regularly addressing huddles, like he used to when he was the captain. That led to talk of handing him the interim Test captaincy even as the selectors tried to bide time to find a full-time captain. BCCI sources said such an idea had been floated informally.“But he revealed the format was taking a toll, and it was getting difficult to go through another big and long Test series. He just didn’t feel right about continuing. BCCI asked him to take his time and revisit his decision. But he refused to back down,” board sources said. medium nocaption121139658IPL, halted last week due to the Indo-Pak border tensions, will restart on May 17 with RCB taking on KKR in Bengaluru. It’s understood that Kohli communicated his final decision over the weekend but had dropped enough hints to teammates over the past two months. “Kohli was speaking a lot to his teammates about how tough it was getting for him to push himself in Tests. He had dropped hints once the team re-assembled after the Australia tour for the white-ball season. He mentioned he was beginning to feel that he didn’t have much Test cricket left in him and that he may have to take a call soon,” a source said.Selectors felt the team was not ready yet to have two big names in the batting lineup walking away together. They hoped that the home season against South Africa and West Indies could have been a better opportunity to play a raw batting lineup. Had Kohli agreed to play the series in England, there could have been a possibility for him to get a farewell Test at his home ground in New Delhi against South Africa in November.Eventually, Kohli chose not to drag his career. Not surprising from a man who once chose to declare the innings while batting on 254 against South Africa, with five wickets to spare, just to ensure India had enough time to force a result on a flat pitch in Pune in 2019. medium nocaption121138418Who will bat at number 4?The former captain’s Test retirement has forced the selectors to find a new, long-term option for the No. 4 slot. Kohli manned the position for over a decade after taking over from Sachin Tendulkar in 2013.India’s batting has worn a vulnerable look since Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane started fading away and Kohli and Rohit Sharma subsequently hit a prolonged rough patch. There is a strong possibility that Shubman Gill, touted as India’s next long-term captain, could be asked to take responsibility of the No. 4 spot to hold the batting together.However, it is not a straightforward call. Gill has been known to be a reluctant middle-order batter. It took much effort from previous head coach Rahul Dravid to convince him to give up the opening slot in Tests. One of the reasons behind the move was to prepare him for possibly taking up the No. 4 position when Kohli eventually vacated the spot. medium nocaption121138436WV Raman, former India opener who coached India U-19s when Gill played, believes his spot should not be disturbed. “Gill has opened or batted at No. 3 all his life. KL Rahul is the most experienced batter in the lineup. We don’t have anyone to match the stature of Kohli and Tendulkar. In that scenario, the most experienced batter has to be given the responsibility of batting at No. 4,” Raman said.The selectors are also considering including Rajat Patidar in the squad. Karun Nair too could be in England for the India A tour. It will be interesting to see if the committee looks at Shreyas Iyer, who has previously struggled overseas.Former India selector Devang Gandhi believes Rahul will do a good job at No. 4 given his experience in the middle order.“Rahul’s career has revolved around fitting in places where the team needed someone to fill in. At the moment, Sai Sudharsan is in form and has the confidence. Let him open,” Gandhi told TOI , “If the team management feels Rahul is settled at the top, then they should see Gill as the option to bat at No. 4. Gill has the game of a good middle-order batter. We saw that during his days with India ‘A’. And if he becomes captain, it could be a long-term responsible role.”Why his departure hits Indian Test cricket Kohli was the loudest, proudest flagbearer for Tests at a time of great churn in the modern game. In many ways, his exit creates a void in India’s red-ball cricket larger than the one left by the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar. No wonder the powers that be were so desperate to retain him for the upcoming series in England.If Tendulkar was sheer poetry and perfection with bat in hand, Kohli was perfect prose; excellence personified. He was also many things at once: band leader, vocal frontman, brains of the show, spine of the lineup, even an endlessly energetic orchestrator of in-your-face chaos if the situation warranted. He could get under the opponent’s skin in ways very few Indian cricketers could. Above all, he was a relentless pursuer of Test-match wins. medium121138450Forged by inner fire and a blazing need to justify his potential, Kohli whipped himself into a beacon of self-denying, military discipline, transforming both himself and Indian cricket in the process. Many within the setup squirmed at his excesses, especially the unrelenting focus on fitness issues, but Kohli knew cultural change doesn’t come easy. If Sourav Ganguly was the progenitor of Indian cricket’s now-familiar chutzpah and MS Dhoni the white-ball mastermind, Kohli was the beating heart of India’s long-elusive overseas Test success.Do our icons deserve better farewells?Indian cricket has been blessed with legends whose contributions transcend statistics, etching their names into the hearts of millions. Rohit and Kohli, two modern giants, have exemplified this legacy, steering India to unprecedented heights with their bats and leadership. Yet, as their careers reach pivotal moments, a poignant question looms: do these icons deserve a grand farewell, and if so, who is to blame when such farewells fall short? Is it the players’ reluctance to step away at the right moment, or does the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and its selectors share the burden due to poor communication?The answer is complex. The notion of a ‘proper farewell’ is deeply romanticised in cricket. Sachin Tendulkar’s tearful goodbye at Wankhede Stadium in 2013, with a meticulously planned final Test, set a gold standard. Fans expect their heroes to bow out on their terms, preferably with a century or a match-winning performance, accompanied by a lap of honour. medium120999676However, reality is often messier. Rohit’s recent step back from Test cricket was understated, lacking the fanfare befitting a player of his stature. Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, at 36, similarly has left the cricket fraternity divided — some celebrated his monumental legacy, while others felt the exit lacked the grandeur his career warranted.If Kohli and Rohit’s departure feels abrupt, it echoes the unceremonious retirements of past greats like Rahul Dravid or VVS Laxman, who retired after a torrid 2012 Australia tour without the pomp they deserved.So, where does the fault lie? Players like Kohli and Rohit are fiercely competitive, driven by a hunger to contribute and a belief in their ability to defy time. This self-belief, while admirable, can cloud judgment. Kohli’s decision to retire from Tests, though voluntary, came amid scrutiny over his form, suggesting external pressures may have influenced his choice.Reporting by Arani Basu