Virat Kohli Was Tipped for Test Captaincy Comeback, But BCCI Reversed Decision: Report

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Virat Kohli, India's most successful Test captain, surprised the cricketing world earlier this week by announcing his retirement from the longest format of the game.

The former skipper, who led India in 68 Tests between December 2014 and January 2022 and secured 40 victories-the most by any Indian captain-shared the news on Instagram on Monday, May 12.

The 36-year-old's decision came just weeks before India's scheduled five-match Test series against England, beginning June 20 in Leeds. Kohli was initially expected to feature in that series, making his sudden exit from Test cricket even more unexpected for fans and followers of the sport.

In the days following his retirement announcement, new details have emerged suggesting that Kohli had aspirations of reclaiming the Test captaincy.

According to a Sports Today video report, sources close to the former captain claim he was informally assured by the BCCI that he could return to lead the Test side, possibly during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

These discussions reportedly took place after India's poor performance in the day-night Test in Adelaide under Rohit Sharma's leadership. India lost that match inside three days, and it was at this point, the report claims, that Kohli was given a "hint" about a possible return as captain.

People close to him do seem to suggest that he was given sort of a hint that he would be getting captaincy after Adelaide. But then things changed.

Following India's 3-1 loss in that series, the management is said to have shifted its focus towards building a team under younger leadership.

Despite this shift in direction, Kohli remained optimistic about a potential comeback as skipper. He even participated in a Ranji Trophy game for Delhi against Railways at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, adhering to BCCI's requirements for selection.

However, by April, the former captain was reportedly informed that he would be considered only as a player going forward. Disappointed with the decision and the change in stance, Kohli ultimately opted to walk away from Test cricket altogether.

His retirement marks the end of a golden chapter for Indian Test cricket, but the behind-the-scenes developments hint at a saga that extended beyond just on-field performance.