Virat Kohli announced retirement after being refused India captaincy in Tests- Report

Before declaring his Test retirement on May 12, Virat Kohli allegedly discussed his lack of freedom in the new Team India under new head coach Gautam Gambhir with BCCI top selector Ajit Agarkar.

As a new World Test Championship cycle began, Virat realized that several things needed to be altered if he and the squad were to overcome their recent slump. Reportedly, Kohli wanted a new challenge—the opportunity to take back the captaincy and guide the squad through this transition. The Board of Control for Cricket in India, or BCCI, had other ideas, though.

According to a Cricbuzz report, Kohli decided to retire from Test cricket after finding out that the management had decided to name a younger player captain. He desired new challenges for his own rebirth and self-discovery.

Under the current management, he was reportedly not getting the independence, atmosphere, and vibrations he wanted. The new dressing room has a completely different vibe from the old one.

Virat Kohli announced retirement after knowing someone else would be given the India Test captaincy

After a poor stretch of batting form that lasted for around three years and during which he only scored runs at an average of 32, the 36-year-old wanted a new challenge. Sadly, without it, he had little motivation to continue his journey in the whites.

The article also said that before accepting the call to retire from Test cricket, Kohli had a conversation with Ravi Shastri. Although it's unclear how much of it actually occurred, Virat also spoke with Jay Shah, the former BCCI secretary.

He was expected to meet with Rajeev Shukla, one of the most influential members of the board, but the Indo-Pak political climate did not provide enough time or space for that to happen.

The source further claims that Virat has spoken with Ajit Agarkar, the BCCI's chief selector, on the phone at least twice recently. But none of these conversations changed his mind about quitting the red-ball format.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!