Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli forced to retire from Test cricket? Ajit Agarkar breaks silence

After retiring from T20I cricket last year following India’s title triumph at the T20 World Cup in Barbados and then putting on curtains to their illustrious Test career in May this year, veteran duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now remain active only in the 50-over format. While the stalwarts were last seen donning the Indian jersey in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title win, they will now return months later as India takes on Australia Down Under.

While this marks their return to international cricketer after almost seven months, there future has been the talk of the moment. Although, the two cricketers haven't spoken much on it, but aim to prolong their career till the 2027 ODI World Cup, set to be played in October-November. While members

of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have refuted reports of Australia tour being their last, the talks around their retirement from Test cricket has been long on.

They had made their decisions: Ajit Agarkar refutes reports of BCCI forcing retirement of Ro-Ko

Recently, India’s Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar was questioned if Rohit and Kohli were forced to retire from Test cricket seeing a tremendous dip in form. To this, the former Indian cricketer quickly quipped while hailing the two veterans, "Both of them have been stalwarts of Indian cricket. They both approached. They felt it is a new WTC cycle, whatever people might think or not think. That's the reality. Both were very aware. Perhaps, they may not have gone for those two years as Test players in the WTC cycle.”

Agarkar further added India would have welcomed some experience for the England tour, which marked the start of a new World Test Championship cycle, subtly indicating that it was not the selectors’ decision, but the duo decided it to be the right time. "England was a series where we would have loved some experience. The performance was incredible even though we didn't win. We would have liked some experience. But, they had made their decisions. Once you have played for as long as they have and they are sure about their decision—to walk away from a particular format—you have got to respect that,” Agarkar told NDTV.

"Whether we tried to talk them into playing, I will keep it to myself," he concluded. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s last Test appearance came in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series where the then skipper scored just 31 runs from three Tests whereas Kohli scored 185 runs across 10 innings.