Earlier this year, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket. This decision came after India suffered a disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Following the home series defeat against New Zealand and the subsequent tour of Australia, the pressure was steadily mounting.

What was the reason behind Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test ?

After the Australia tour, both players were asked to play in the Ranji Trophy, and they did participate. Despite this, during the IPL, Rohit Sharma suddenly announced his retirement from Test cricket via an Instagram story. A few days later, Virat Kohli also announced the end of his Test career on social media. This happened just before the England tour, surprising fans and cricket experts.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa said that he didn’t find the duo’s retirement “entirely natural.” He said, “I’m not saying the decision was forced, but the manner and timing of it didn’t seem like a natural exit to me. Only Virat and Rohit can reveal the real truth in their own time.”

Uthappa also said that Rohit Sharma’s form was not good during the Australia tour, but he believed that Rohit would have taken a short break, worked on his fitness and would have definitely made a comeback. After retiring from Test cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are now focusing solely on ODI cricket. Both recently returned to action in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and performed brilliantly.

Uthappa said, “The hunger in both Virat and Rohit’s eyes is visible again. It’s great to see the passion they possess even after such long careers.”

Now, both veterans are focused on the 2027 ODI World Cup. While questions are being raised about their retirement from Test cricket, their ODI form suggests that Virat and Rohit are far from finished. Their experience and class can play a significant role in Indian cricket in the years to come.