Not only the Indian cricketing fraternity but the entire cricketing globe was jolted on Monday, May 12, as Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on a glorious 14-year-long red-ball career. Yes, there were some blemishes, but Kohli had a career only a few of the players have ever had.
The murmurs for his retirement call have been going around for a couple of days now. Apparently, he asked the BCCI to call time on his Test career, but the management gave him time to rethink. Only a week ago, Rohit Sharma stepped down and bid adieu to the red-ball format. Now, India have lost both of their batting pillars and basically two biggest faces.
Virat Kohli retires from Tests
Regardless, Kohli’s decision was not sudden. His recent form in Tests, coupled with consistent failures outside his off-stump game, hinted at this move. Having scored just 190 runs in five Tests during the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and with his average in the format dipping below 50 for the first time in over a decade, the signs were clear. The fact that Kohli remained 770 runs away from his biggest dream tells he called time on his terms.
Kohli, now 36, appears to be channelling his focus toward limited-overs cricket, with the 2027 ODI World Cup firmly on his radar. However, for fans desperate to see him in Indian colours again, the immediate question is: When? Mind you, he already said goodbye to the shortest format of the game after being part of the T20 World Cup 2024 winning team.
When Will Kohli Next Play for India?
With his Test career officially over, Kohli remains available only for ODIs. India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, set for August 17, 2025, is shrouded in uncertainty due to rising diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. Fantastically for Kohli fans, there’s a huge possibility that they will see their idol in India colours within the next three months.
The Bangladesh vs India series, which could’ve taken a toll due to IPL 2025’s suspension, is likely to be played as planned. It is since the IPL’s suspension won’t continue for over a week.
Having said that, if the Bangladesh ODIs do not materialise, fans will have to wait until October, 2025, when India begin their next confirmed ODI series — a high-profile tour of Australia, starting at Perth. India are scheduled to tour Australia for five T20Is and three ODIs in October and December. That tour will be followed by an all-format home series against South Africa.
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