Test Cricket in India is undergoing a tectonic shift right now, as just days ago, Virat Kohli, who is undoubtedly India's greatest modern-day Test batter announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. There have been several reports that it was BCCI's family diktat that forced Kohli to consider retiring. Amidst these rumours, former India star Mohammed Kaif has now made a bombshell announcement.

In an interaction with IANS, Kaif claimed that Virat Kohli wanted to continue playing Tests as was indicative when he returned to play the Ranji Trophy 2025. But he had internal talks with the BCCI and selectors, where they pointed out that his place in Tests might not be there any longer, owing to his current form.

“I think he wanted to continue in the format. There must have been some internal talks with the BCCI, the selectors may have cited his form in the past 5-6 years and told him his spot in the team may no longer be there. We will never find out what happened, it is very difficult to guess what actually took place behind the scenes," Kaif said.

“But given the last-minute decision, having played the Ranji trophy, I definitely think he wanted to come back in the upcoming Tests. The developments in the last few weeks, he may not have gotten the support he thought he will get from BCCI and selectors which he may not have gotten,” the former batter added.

Mohammed Kaif also went on to say that Virat Kohli looked in a hurry to score runs at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as he constantly got out in one way only- edging the ball to the slips while playing a cover drive. This lack of patience might have been because he tough that he was in the last phase of his career, according to Kaif.

“In the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he looked in a hurry to score runs. You have to stay out for hours and grind in Test cricket, which he has done in the past but the constant edging of the ball moving away from him while attempting to drive, made me feel his patience was a bit less.”

“Maybe he was thinking ‘I am in the last phase of my career what's the point of scoring a gritty century, there used to be a different level of patience on display from him before, he used to leave the balls, take his time, tire the bowlers and then took them down but I did not see that from him in Australia'.”

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