Following Rohit Sharma’s test retirement, Virat Kohli has shocked the cricket fraternity by calling a time on his test career.

It is reported that the star cricketer has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he no longer wishes to play the longest format of the game.

The news comes amid the rising tensions border with Pakistan. The IPL is suspended for one week, while the Pakistan Super League has also been suspended.

India’s selectors potentially having to pick a competitive party after losing two of their leading player – both former test captains when they meet in the coming days  before next month’s five-match test series.

Virat Kohli has average of 33.21 in 17 tests in England with two centuries. However, the Indian board is urging Kohli to row back on his decision.

“He has made up his mind and has informed the board that he is moving on from Test cricket. The BCCI has urged him to rethink as the crucial England tour is coming up. He is yet to revert on the request.”

The loss of two experienced players would certainly trouble India’s selectors. Virat Kohli has captained India at test level from December 2014 until he was succeed by Rohit in February 2022 and is believed that Shubman Gill will be leading candidate to succeed Rohit Sharma.

In 123 tests, he scored 9320 runs at an runs at an average 46.85. For India’s last test series against Australia, he average of 46.85.

For India’s last Test series, against Australia, he averaged 23.75 in five Tests and later hinted that his disappointment at his declining performance marked a watershed in his international career. “I might not have an Australia tour again in me in four years’ time,” he said in March.

“Because I got a good score in the first Test. I thought: ‘Right, let’s go. There’s going to be another big series for me.’ It doesn’t turn out that way. For me, it’s just about the acceptance of: ‘OK fine, this is what happened.’ I’m going to be honest with myself. Where do I want to go? What are my energy levels like?’”

Virat Kohli retired from T20Is following India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies last year but his recent form in the IPL has been impressive scoring 505 runs in 11 matches, including three fifties at a strike rate of 143.46 for RCB.

He is India’s all time of test run scorers, with 30 centuries and a highest total of 254 not out against South Africa in 2019.

Virat Kohli has won 40 out of 68 tests as captain with a win percentage of 58.82 and was the first captain to win first ever series win on Australian soil during the 2018-19 tour.