Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket Ahead England Series

Virat Kohli, one of India's most celebrated cricketers, announced his retirement from Test cricket after a 14-year career, leaving a significant void ahead of India's upcoming five-match Test series against England. Kohli, who played 123 Test matches and scored 9,230 runs, is India's fourth-highest Test run-scorer and most successful Test captain with 40 wins in 68 matches. His retirement follows that of Rohit Sharma and has sparked concern among former players like Navjot Singh Sidhu, who warned that Kohli's absence could destabilize the team during the England tour. Kohli's peak came in 2018 when he scored 1,322 runs and won the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year, and he led India to historic series wins in Australia. Despite a late-career decline in form, Kohli's dedication to Test cricket and his influence in revitalizing the format, particularly in India, have been widely acknowledged. His decision marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, with many hoping he might reconsider to lead the team in the forthcoming series.