Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket within days of each other. Rohit announced his retirement on May 7, and Kohli followed on May 12.
There is a lot of speculation about whether the retirements were forced. Many wondered if coach Gautam Gambhir had pushed them out of the team. Their last series was the tour of Australia, where Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement midway. This raised questions about whether their Test retirements were also forced.
Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri clarified the situation. He said nobody forced them out and it was their own decision. He explained that once a player loses the passion for Tests, they pull the plug themselves. He feels the same will happen when they feel it in ODIs.
Shastri also believes they should take it one series at a time. The 2027 ODI World Cup is one year away, so there is still time. He said it depends on how hungry and fit they are and whether the passion for the game is still there.
Rohit and Kohli also retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024. The ODI format is now the only one they are active in. An ODI retirement would mean a full international farewell for them. Until that happens, fans should enjoy every chance they get to watch these modern greats in action.
BCCI On Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Test Retirements
In May 2025, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirement from Test cricket. The news came as a surprise to fans. Neither had expressed any intention to retire before. There were even reports that both were looking forward to the England tour.
Many fans speculated that the BCCI had forced them to retire. Some believed head coach Gautam Gambhir, chief selector Ajit Agarkar, and the BCCI played a role in the decision.
BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla has finally addressed the rumors. He said the decision to retire was made by Kohli and Sharma on their own. He made it clear that the BCCI never forces any player to retire. It is against board policy.
Shukla said the board respects both players as legendary batters. He also confirmed that both are available for ODIs, which is good news for Indian cricket.
Rohit announced his retirement on May 7 through an Instagram story. He played 67 Tests and scored 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57. Shubman Gill was named the new Test captain.
Virat Kohli announced his retirement on May 12, also through Instagram. He played 123 Tests and finished with 9,230 runs.
Why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Were Demoted in BCCI Contract List
The BCCI announced a new list of contracts and abolished the A+ category. As a result, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were demoted to the B category. This happened despite both being in great form over the last 12 months. This choice is just a normal rule for the team.
Rohit and Kohli stopped playing T20 matches for India in 2024. They did this after they won the World Cup. They also retired from Test cricket in 2025. Since then, they have only been playing ODIs. They are now single-format players, which is why their contracts were demoted.
The A+ category was introduced by the COA when MS Dhoni was captain. It was meant for players who excelled across all three formats. Only four players qualified: Kohli, Rohit, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The new central contract is based on performance and the number of games played during the previous season. Since Rohit and Kohli are now only ODI players, they no longer qualify for the top category.
Both players are in the twilight of their careers. Rohit has been playing since 2007 and will turn 39 this year. Kohli has been playing since 2008 and will turn 38. Since they only play ODIs now, a retirement from the format will be their international farewell.
Both players had a good 2025. Kohli started 2026 with a bang, while Rohit is yet to find his groove. Fans hope both will be on the plane to South Africa for the World Cup in late 2027.
FAQs
Q. Did the BCCI force Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to retire from Tests?
A. No. Ravi Shastri and Rajeev Shukla said both retired by choice.
Q. When did Rohit Sharma retire from Test cricket?
A. Rohit announced his Test retirement on May 7, 2025.
Q. When did Virat Kohli retire from Test cricket?
A. Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, 2025.
Q. Are Kohli and Rohit still playing international cricket?
A. Yes. Both remain active for India in ODI cricket.
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