As Indian cricket gears up for a new era, reports reveal the BCCI formally ended Rohit Sharma’s red-ball tenure, while urging Virat Kohli to reconsider his decision to retire from Tests.
May12, 2025 New Delhi: As Indian cricket reels from the potential twin exits of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket, new details have emerged suggesting that Rohit was formally informed by the BCCI that his time in the longest format was over.
According to a report by Dainik Jagran, the decision regarding Rohit’s Test future was communicated before the May 7 BCCI meeting in Mumbai, where chief selector Ajit Agarkar and other top officials met to discuss team plans. On the same day, Rohit’s retirement from Test cricket was made public.
Kohli’s Exit: BCCI Leaves the Door Open
In contrast to Rohit’s case, Kohli’s decision to step away from Test cricket appears to have been self-initiated, and the board is reportedly treating it as a personal decision. While the BCCI has urged him to reconsider, particularly with the upcoming England Test series, they have stopped short of pressuring the former skipper.
“The board respects Kohli’s decision, but still hopes to see him reconsider,” the report suggests.
Kohli has reportedly informed the selectors weeks in advance and his retirement could align with the conclusion of the current World Test Championship cycle.
Leadership Transition: Shubman Gill Leads the Race
With both Rohit and Kohli stepping away, the BCCI is expected to entrust the Test captaincy to Shubman Gill, who has already shown promise with Gujarat Titans in the IPL and serves as vice-captain in both ODIs and T20Is.
Gill’s name tops the wishlist amid a generational shift. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has ruled himself out of contention for the Test captaincy due to workload management, and Rishabh Pant has emerged as a surprise contender.
Legacy of Rohit and Kohli in Tests
Rohit’s retirement follows a lacklustre performance in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he even voluntarily stepped aside for the final Test in Sydney. Kohli, meanwhile, has been synonymous with India’s red-ball dominance overseas, leading India to historic wins and two World Test Championship finals — though he couldn’t clinch the title.
As Indian cricket moves into a new phase, the void left by these stalwarts will be hard to fill — both in experience and leadership.
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