Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket has sparked many speculations about whether the upcoming England tour influenced his decision.

Kohli, who had a difficult tour of Australia - India's last Test assignment- was expected to bounce back in familiar but challenging English conditions. Yet, in a move that surprised many, he retired with 123 Tests and 9,230 runs under his belt.

Former India selector Dilip Vengsarkar weighed in on the debate, addressing questions about Kohli's decision to step away just ahead of India's crucial five-match Test series in the UK.

"I would not say that, to be honest with you, because Kohli did very well in Test match cricket. He has played more than 120 Tests (123). "

The former selector also criticised the obsession with statistics, saying they often fail to capture the true impact of a player's contribution in Test matches.

" You see, we are obsessed with milestones and statistics, which is not correct," Vengsarkar was quoted by PTI as saying.

"It doesn't show you the true contribution of a batsman. The impact is what matters in Test match cricket. How you bat out a particular session, for that matter, that doesn't show in statistics.

"I wish both Rohit and Kohli had retired after the England series because that's a very important series. Having said that, we need to respect their decision."

Kohli had famously battled and conquered his 2014 England nightmares in the 2018 series, delivering a performance that silenced critics. But at 36, this time, it seems he chose a different path.

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