BCCI had stopped Virat Kohli from retiring due to ‘Operation Sindoor’, big report surfaced

Virat Kohli’s Test Retirement: A Glorious Career Comes to an End

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has officially retired from international Test cricket. The announcement came on May 12 through an emotional post shared on his social media handles. With this, one of India’s most celebrated and successful Test careers has come to a close. Kohli ends his Test journey with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, scoring at an impressive average of over 46. He leaves behind a legacy that fans and future cricketers will admire for years.

Many cricket fans were heartbroken to hear the news of Kohli’s retirement. A large number of his followers were hoping he would reach the 10,000-run milestone in Test cricket, a feat achieved by only a few elite batsmen. Unfortunately, he has decided to step away from the longest format before reaching that number. Now, Kohli will only be seen in One Day Internationals (ODIs), having already retired from T20 internationals after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024.

Interestingly, Virat is not the only senior Indian cricketer to have retired from Tests recently. Just a few days before Kohli’s announcement, Rohit Sharma, the former Test captain, also retired from the format on May 7. According to a report published by The Indian Express, Kohli had initially planned to declare his retirement on the same day as Rohit Sharma. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that he delay the announcement for a few more days.

The reason behind this delay was related to national security. At the time, there were rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The Indian government and BCCI were focusing on a sensitive mission called 'Operation Sindoor.' In light of these developments, the board felt that Kohli’s retirement announcement could wait until the situation settled. Kohli respected the board’s advice and agreed to postpone the news until after the operation was completed.

The report also mentioned that Kohli had already informed the selectors and the board well in advance about his decision to quit Test cricket. The reason was personal. Kohli has been playing cricket non-stop for over a decade and now wishes to spend more time with his family. With international travel, constant tours, and tight schedules, he felt that stepping away from Test cricket would help him focus on his loved ones.

Despite his retirement from Test cricket, Kohli is still actively playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In fact, his performance in IPL 2025 has been outstanding so far. He plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and has been one of the key players for the team this season.

Kohli has already scored 505 runs in 11 matches with an excellent average of over 63 and a powerful strike rate above 143. He currently ranks fourth in the Orange Cap race, which is awarded to the top run-scorer of the season. His form has been a big reason behind RCB’s success in the tournament. The team has won eight out of their 11 games and sits in second place on the points table with 16 points.

With the IPL resuming on May 17, all eyes will be on Kohli once again. Fans are hoping he continues his great form and helps RCB push for their maiden IPL title. As the tournament nears its final stages, Kohli will look to leave a strong impression in the last three league matches and possibly the playoffs.

Although the cricket world will miss Virat Kohli in whites, his journey is far from over. Fans will continue to cheer for him in ODIs and the IPL as he begins a new chapter in his career.