"Virat Kohli Takes Break from Test Cricket: The Reason for Doing So"

Virat Kohli chose to retire from Test cricket The news came as a surprise to most fans and cricket lovers alike Virat Kohli is unquestionably one of the greatest influencing and skilled cricketers who have ever played the game Yet his Test career has come to an abrupt conclusion As reports state this was not an impromptu decision but a well-considered one based on personal and professional considerations

Sources have told us that Virat Kohli had been weighing his exit from the Test cricket format for quite some time Now the reason he has been mulling over the decision is also connected with wanting a new challenge and growing personally After a period of struggle at the crease where his batting form had sagged and his average plummeted to a mere 32 or so in the last three years Virat thought he needed something different to reconnect with the love and meaning he had in the game In spite of his aspiration to once again lead the team especially during the England Test series the Board of Control for Cricket in India BCCI did not give him another chance to do so Instead the BCCI preferred to transfer the responsibility to someone younger as a part of its new plan

Virat Kohli is said to have consulted Ajit Agarkar the BCCI chief selector on multiple occasions to inform him of his ideas regarding whether or not he would continue to play in the Test format. These discussions were not followed through on However keen as he had been to experiment with new tasks Virat considered that the atmosphere of the team at present offered no such liberties and good ambiance as he found in the previous dressing room system This feeling of constraint was of great influence for his retirement decision from red-ball cricket

Besides talking to Ajit Agarkar Virat also spoke to Ravi Shastri his good friend and erstwhile Indian team head coach to consult with him about his crisis Ravi Shastri has been a mentor figure throughout Virat's career but even his counsel failed to change Virat's mind about distancing himself from Tests Besides he had talks with Jay Shah the erstwhile BCCI secretary regarding his plight However it is not so clear what were the conclusions derived from their talks There was also a scheduled meeting between Virat and Rajeev Shukla a leading figure in the BCCI but because of political tensions between India and Pakistan the meeting could not be held

Virat's retirement from Test cricket was also driven by the BCCI's intention to begin a new World Test Championship cycle The board needed a new approach and believed that it was time to implement new young leadership in the team If the transition had been postponed to after the English series both Virat and Rohit Sharma could have played for a little while longer However the BCCI was firm about going ahead with a new direction and a new beginning for the team

Virat Kohli was always a player who enjoyed challenges and the zeal to lead and play to his best ability Despite walking away from Test cricket his legacy as one of the all-time greats of the format will forever inspire generations to come of cricketers His decision is based on his wanting to try new things and take on new challenges even if that means leaving a format behind which defined his career

Though the fans and the cricket fraternity are yet to accept Virat Kohli's decision the fact remains that his decision was made after considering a combination of personal introspection career ambitions and the shifting team dynamics While his Test career may be over his contribution to the game cannot be rivalled and his influence on Indian cricket will forever be remembered