Virat Kohli, India’s star batter, stunned the cricket world by announcing his Test retirement in May 2025, just before India’s crucial five-Test series against England. Having played 123 Tests, scoring 9230 runs with 30 centuries at an average of 46.85, Kohli’s decision followed a lean patch, particularly in the Border Gavaskar Trophy, where he managed only 190 runs in nine innings despite a century in Perth. Former Australia batter Greg Chappell attributed Kohli’s exit to a breakdown in mental clarity, noting that the 36 year old struggled with decision making and spontaneity, critical for elite performance. Over the last five years, Kohli scored just four Test centuries, his average dipping below 47.

Kohli’s retirement, following Rohit Sharma’s, leaves India without their two most experienced batters for the England tour. His recent Ranji Trophy appearance had raised hopes of a comeback, but persistent struggles against deliveries outside off stump signaled deeper challenges. Chappell emphasized that mental fatigue, not skill, drove Kohli’s exit.