(Image source from: AFP)
The unexpected retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Indian Test team surprised everyone globally. The two icons of Indian cricket ended their Test careers suddenly in May 2025, just days before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. There are various speculations and articles that suggest their disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia could have influenced their decision to retire. However, former Indian cricketer Karsan Ghavri has offered a different viewpoint on this situation. Ghavri mentioned that both Rohit and Kohli wished to keep playing for India in Test matches, but due to the "internal politics" within the BCCI, they felt compelled to step away. "Kohli should have surely been able to continue playing for India, likely for another few years. But something really pushed him to resign. Unfortunately, when he did retire, the BCCI did not even give him a farewell," Ghavri expressed on the Vickey Lalwani Show.
"Players like him, who have provided such excellent service to the BCCI, Indian cricket, and fans, deserve a grand farewell," he continued. He further blamed the selection committee for the "early" retirement of both Rohit and Virat from Test matches. "It's because of the internal politics within the BCCI, which is difficult to comprehend. I believe this is why he retired early. Rohit Sharma also retired earlier than expected. They were told to leave," Ghavri stated. "It’s not that they wanted to depart. They intended to stay. But the selectors and BCCI had other plans. It was about some trivial politics," he added. In addition, there are claims that both players might retire from ODIs soon, meaning they could miss out on the opportunity to compete in the 2027 World Cup.
Virat and Rohit are among the best ODI players India has ever seen, with Virat having scored 14,181 runs across 302 matches and 290 innings for an average of 57.88, including 51 centuries and 74 fifties. His highest score is 183. Meanwhile, Rohit has accumulated 11,168 runs in 272 matches and 265 innings, averaging 48.76, with 32 centuries and 59 fifties, and his top score is 264.
