Virat Kohli shocked everyone by announcing retirement from Test cricket. Although the news was surprising to most fans and pundits, insiders indicate that Kohli had made up his mind long in advance.
Longing For Change In The midst Of A fresh WTC Cycle
According to sources, he felt that the transition phase provided him an opportunity to go back to leading and steer the side through a fresh period. The BCCI, however, had other ideas. As per a report by Cricbuzz, the board explained to Kohli that the leadership duties would be transferred to a younger player as part of their long-term plan.
Craving The Right Environment
Kohli, seemingly, was not quite at ease in the prevailing team setup. According to the report by Cricbuzz, “Virat Kohli was not getting the freedom, environment and the kind of vibes he wanted.” With the new management in place, he was said to feel stifled and uninspired in the present arrangement. To find a fresh impetus and self-stimulus, Kohli decided that going on in whites without enthusiasm didn’t do justice to either him or the team.
Talks That Couldn’t Change His Mind
In the process of finalizing his decision, Kohli is said to have had a few key talks. He spoke with former head coach and close friend Ravi Shastri, and also made contact with former BCCI secretary Jay Shah. A meeting with BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla was planned but didn’t happen, due to India-Pakistan tensions.
He also apparently had two conversations with chief selector Ajit Agarkar in the past few weeks. Nothing that was said was enough to convince Kohli to change his mind about retiring from Test cricket.
