Virat Kohli Test Retirement Shocks Cricket World

Virat Kohli’s shocking retirement from Test cricket has left many in the cricketing world shocked. Among those surprised is Sarandeep Singh, one of Kohli’s former coaches on Delhi’s Ranji Trophy side. He said he knew Kohli was making preparations for red-ball cricket including the tour to England and the India A series.

A Shocking Announcement

Cricket fans in India awoke to the shocking news yesterday (May 12). It was of Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, a form he has dominated for ten years. The announcement was made out of the blue with no hints in the media and shocked even those closest to the cricketer.

In a chat with Jio Hotstar, Singh told of his surprise.

“When I heard this morning about Virat Kohli’s announcement it blew me away.” said Singh, who had just been speaking to Kohli about his form in red-ball cricket.

Kohli’s Recent Engagement with Red-Ball Cricket

In stark contrast to what you would assume a player looking toward retirement might look like, Kohli looked every bit in good spirits. He was focused in preparing his game on the lead up to Test matches.

Singh proposed the ex-captain played in the Ranji Trophy games in Delhi at the beginning of the year. He showed no signs of walking away from the format.

“We started talking about which games he wanted to play.” “He showed his engagement,” Singh recalled.

Singh mentioned that Kohli’s desire to contribute more in red-ball cricket was evident. They had talked about the England tour that everyone is looking forward to.

Plans for England Tour and India A Games

What makes Kohli’s retirement so shocking is that he had a plan for preparing. Singh revealed that Kohli was keen to play in India A games as a lead-up to the England Test series. This was very reflective of his commitment to the format.

“Singh said, he was preparing for the England tour where they were going to win the Test match.”

“I asked him if he would play in county cricket after that.” He said, “No, brother, I want to play in matches for India A.”

This preparation approach resembled Kohli’s approach from the 2018 tour in England. There he absolutely dominated. Singh said Kohli was hoping to repeat that performance. He expressed that he wanted “to score three to four hundreds.”

No Indication of Retirement in Recent Discourse

One of the most shocking aspects of this news for Singh, is the lack of any indication that Kohli was even contemplating retirement. Singh mentioned that even in their recent personal conversations, Kohli never suggested he was considering such a monumental decision.

“I did not have any indication that he was contemplating anything like this,” said Singh, who had messaged with Kohli only days before. “He had never suggested anything like this.”

The severity of the news, especially without warning, has added to the speculation of Kohli’s decision, including whether there had been additional factors of a more personal nature off the field related to the announcement.

A Historic Test Career Comes to a Close

Virat Kohli ends his Test career as one of India’s greatest red-ball cricketers. With 9,230 runs scored in 210 innings, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, Kohli is leaving behind an incredible legacy in the format. His highest score of 254*, along with the stability he provided as captain, entrenches him among the greats.

While Kohli at 36, remains fit and involved in the other formats of cricket, the sudden decision to give up Tests will leave many fans and cricket commentators confused by his choice.

Final Thoughts

Apart from the sports news headlines today, the next biggest story today is the abrupt retirement of Virat Kohli from Test cricket. With participants like Sarandeep Singh expressing bewilderment and disbelief, this decision shocks even those closest to Kohli’s cricketing journey.

Regardless of whether this decision is based on personal life, fitness demands, or a larger career plan, Kohli’s departure signifies an end of an era in Indian cricket.