Why did Virat Kohli retire from Test cricket? (Photo Source: Virat Kohli/Instagram)

The Indian cricketing world will be missing another legendary figure in Test cricket, as India's great has finally announced his retirement from the game with a post on social media, bidding farewell to the red-ball format after 14 years of outstanding match-winning knocks.

Virat is among the finest cricketers in red-ball cricket for the Indian team, having played 123 Test matches and scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name. However, his announcement has still come as a shock to everyone, as it arrives ahead of the series against England, one of his favourite opponents in the game. It is time to discuss what could be the reasons that might have led to this decision taken by the modern-day great.

Here are possible reasons for Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket: 5. Influence of Rohit Sharma's retirement Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Source: Twitter/X)

Virat Kohli was not the only legendary batter to retire from Test cricket recently, as Rohit Sharma also announced his departure from the prestigious format just five days ago. Both cricketers began their Test careers in the early 2010s and have played a lot of cricket together. There is a possibility that Rohit's decision might have given Kohli closure about his own future in the game.

The two cricketers have not had the best season, and seeing that there was barely a gap between the retirement of both legends might lead some people to believe that Rohit's retirement could be one of the reasons behind Kohli's decision.

4. Personal reasons and family life Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma with Vamika. (Photo Source: Instagram/virat.kohli and anushkasharma)

Personal life could also be one of the reasons why a sportsman would take such a tough call. The life of a cricketer often means having less time with friends and family. Apart from being a legendary cricketer, Virat is also the father of two children, and retiring from this format might give him more time to spend with them.

Having retired from two formats of international cricket, Kohli will now have fewer days of travelling and can concentrate more on his personal life. The 36-year-old legend has already played many incredible innings on the field and might now be looking to have longer innings with the people he loves and adores.

3. Better preparations for ODI World Cup 2027 Virat Kohli. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Although Virat has retired from T20Is and Test , he is still very much a part of the ODI setup. His retirement from Test cricket might be a step taken to allow for extra preparation for the ODI World Cup, which is just two years away. Although there are speculations that the Delhi-born batter might not play long enough to be available for the tournament, the chances are still alive.

There are two main reasons why the two-time World Champion would want to play in the tournament in South Africa. Firstly, to overcome the heartbreak of 19th November, when the Men in Blue lost the World Cup final against Australia. Secondly, to finally end India's drought and win their third ODI World Cup title.

2. Giving opportunities to young talents Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill. (Photo Source: Twitter/X)

The reason Virat and Rohit retired from T20Is was to provide opportunities for the younger generation to prove themselves. This might also be a reason for their retirement from Test cricket, considering the number of talented players emerging in the setup. With both these legends stepping aside, many young and gifted players will now have the chance to prove that they belong in the national team.

There are many players in red-ball cricket who are yet to showcase their full potential, and the senior batter might have considered this when deciding to retire from one of the toughest and most prestigious formats of the game.

1. Poor run-of-form in Test cricket Virat Kohli. (Source:X/Twitter)

The previous reasons could just be speculations, but one of the main reasons that might have influenced Kohli's decision is his poor run of form in the format over the last four seasons. It is safe to say that the former India skipper was not at his peak during this period, where he did not display the same consistency that people had witnessed before 2019.

Last season was one of his most disappointing, as he managed only 382 runs in 10 Test matches at an average of 22.47, with just one century and one half-century. The last few seasons also saw his overall average drop from above 50 to the mid-40s.