Did BCCI push Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma into Test retirement? Rajeev Shukla responds

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In a major development that cleared the air around two of Indian cricket’s biggest stars, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice-President Rajeev Shukla has officially cleared Board’s stance on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s retirements from Test cricket. With fans still reeling from the timing of the announcement, just before India’s crucial five-Test tour of England, speculation had been rife about whether the Board or selectors had nudged them towards stepping aside.

Speaking during Team India’s visit to meet King Charles III at St. James’ Palace, Shukla categorically denied any such interference and praised both cricketers for their contributions. Kohli and Rohit had already stepped down from T20Is after India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, and their exit from Tests came in May 2025. The veteran duo will now be seen only in ODIs, with the Champions Trophy 2025 and bilateral series on the horizon. Shukla’s comments have put to rest weeks of theories surrounding their surprise Test exits.

Putting months of speculation to rest, Shukla clarified that the BCCI had no hand in influencing Kohli and Rohit’s retirements from Test cricket. “We are all feeling the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,” Shukla said while addressing reporters in London. “But I want to make it very clear once and for all. The decision to retire was made by Rohit and Virat on their own.  The BCCI has a clear policy that it does not tell any player when to retire from any format.”

The back-to-back announcements from the two legends just ahead of the England series had triggered conspiracy theories about alleged pressure from selectors like Ajit Agarkar or the influence of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Shukla categorically rejected these rumors, adding, “They have taken retirement on their own. We will always consider them as legendary batters,” Kohli had taken to Instagram to announce his red-ball retirement after 123 Tests, while Rohit, aged 38, stepped away after 67 appearances.

#WATCH | London, UK | BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla says, "…We are all feeling the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. The decision to retire made by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli was their own. It is the policy of BCCI that we never tell any player to retire…We will…

— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2025

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Despite their retirement from Tests and T20Is, both Kohli and Rohit remain committed to representing India in ODIs. With the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and a potential white-ball tour to Australia and Sri Lanka lined up, the duo’s experience will still be vital. “It’s very good for us that both of them are available for ODIs,” Shukla noted, emphasizing their ongoing value in India’s 50-over setup.

Rohit, who scored 4,301 runs in 67 Tests at an average of 40.57, struggled in his final red-ball series against Australia, even opting out of the last Test in Sydney. Kohli, on the other hand, ended his Test career on a stronger note with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Their ODI continuity offers stability as India builds toward another world title. The two were instrumental in India’s World Cup runs and will likely mentor younger players during the upcoming international fixtures.

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