Burnout or pushed out? Why Virat Kohli walked away from Test cricket

Dubai: Virat Kohli’s sudden Test retirement has left the cricket world stunned. Just days after Rohit Sharma stepped down from the format, Kohli announced his decision with a quiet Instagram post — no farewell series, no press conference. Behind the tributes and stats, though, a question lingers: Did Kohli walk away by choice, or was he shown the door?

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes Kohli’s retirement wasn’t entirely voluntary. In an interview with IANS, Kaif hinted at possible pressure from selectors.

“There must have been internal talks with the BCCI,” Kaif said. “Selectors may have told him his spot might not be guaranteed.”

Kohli’s appearance for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy earlier this year suggested he had Test ambitions. Kaif feels the last-minute nature of the decision points to a change in plans — and perhaps a lack of support from the top.

“He looked in a hurry to score runs,” Kaif added. “It wasn’t the Kohli we’re used to seeing in Tests.”

Former cricketer Yograj Singh echoed that sentiment, criticising Indian cricket’s obsession with youth and calling both Kohli and Rohit’s retirements premature.

“Rohit and Kohli still had a lot of cricket left,” he said. “The greatest players should play till 50. Now who’s there to guide the youngsters?”

Yograj even likened this moment to India’s post-2011 slump, warning of a leadership vacuum.

Sources within the BCCI, according to Indian Express, say Kohli had informed the board in early April that he wanted to focus on his family. He had missed the England series for the birth of his second child, and recent BCCI guidelines limiting family time on tours may have further influenced his decision.

At Royal Challengers Bengaluru event earlier this year, Kohli had spoken about how being with his wife and children brought him peace and stability.

“You finish your commitment and come back home — absolute normality,” he said. “That’s a day of immense pleasure.”

Kohli reportedly made his final call on Monday, bringing an end to his 14-year Test career — 123 Tests, 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, and a highest score of 254 not out. He finishes as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122).

Whether it was emotional fatigue, family priorities, or a lack of backing, Kohli’s Test exit wasn’t just about cricket. The question remains: did he jump, or was he pushed?