Why did Virat Kohli quit Test cricket

India's talismanic cricketer Virat Kohli sent shockwaves across the cricketing world when he announced retirement from Test cricket on Monday morning.

There had been speculation about it though in recent times -- his reputation was badly harmed by his performance in Australia where he aggregated 190 in five Tests and averaged 23.75 runs per innings. He didn't have much to show through the entirety of the last season -- 382 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 22.47 with a century.

However, the fact that the retirement of India's greatest batsman post Sachin Tendulkar came without a farewell Test surprised many. Also, with the England Test tour up next and Rohit Sharma announcing his retirement just a few days ago, the Indian cricket selectors were banking on the seasoned player to carry the young batting line-up.

Kohli, who had quit T20 Internationals after the T20 World Cup win last year, ended his career with 9,230 runs in 123 Test matches with 30 tons and 31 half-centuries.

He will now represent India only in ODIs.

It is hard to say where the disagreement between the BCCI selectors and Kohli arose.

There have been talks that Kohli wanted to lead the team but the selectors wanted to blood in a youngster as captain since the England series was going to be the start of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Perhaps if the WTC had not existed, he may still have been entrusted with the leadership.

Those who know Kohli closely feel that leadership, adversity and playing-to-the-gallery always brings the best out of him. Handing him the captaincy may have given him the platform to perform well.

But there is also the future.

As of now, the toss-up is between Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah. If Bumrah plays all five Tests, he may be given captaincy but if he doesn't then perhaps either Pant or Gill will be the captain. None of the two have done well in Tests in recent times. While Pant has been a proven match-winner in the past, Gill has been well below par.

There is also a chance of KL Rahul becoming a makeshift skipper due to his experience.

Kohli's biggest problem throughout his career has been his uncertainty outside the off-stump.  He has fallen prey to the nagging line a number of times. It is hard for every batsman against good bowlers, but for Kohli it has been harder. With growing age and slowing reflexes, things don't improve even though he tries his best to stay fit.

He is still among the fastest runners on the cricket field. He is fit as a fiddle. But batting isn't all about fitness. It is a combination of mind and various parts of body moving in different directions and to different distances. It is one hell of a job.

He was never great outside off-stump but somehow he could turn up and cover it and run up consistent scores to enter into a glut. Nowadays, a century may come but it will be followed by a lean patch. England would have been tough. Australia gave some spicy pitches this time and he struggled. He probably knew that his reputation will take a further dent if he were to travel to England only as a batsman and fail and retire in humiliation.

A failure in five Tests in England wouldn't be followed by a farewell as he would have to immediately quit on return considering that Rohit Sharma has retired without a farewell Test very recently.

There is no doubt that Sharma's place in the playing XI was never certain. A failure in first Test would have seen the elegant batter sit out and retire. But with Kohli, there was always a chance that selectors would give him a longer rope since he has been a more accomplished Test batsman, one who has valued his wicket and fought like a tiger especially in Australia.

On Monday morning Kohli posted on Instagram, "It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life. There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever."

"As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile."

Tags : Virat Kohli, Test cricket, England, Sachin Tendulkar, BCCI