'Meeting with highly influential figure': How BCCI plans to reverse Kohli’s Test retirement decision

The BCCI reportedly does not want Virat Kohli to retire from Test cricket and may soon take a unique step to help him reverse his retirement plans. read more

The news that Virat Kohli is planning to “move on” from Test cricket has created a panic of sorts in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who are ready to take required steps to stop it from happening. The news of Kohli planning to retire was broken on Saturday morning but as per reports, the former Test captain had been in conversation with BCCI for over a month.

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Kohli has communicated to the BCCI had he is ready to retire from Test cricket. India’s next assignment is against England, a five-match Test series that starts on 20 June.

How BCCI plans to reverse Kohli’s Test retirement decision

What will BCCI do to help Kohli change his mind? As per Cricbuzz, the BCCI has picked a “highly influential figure” in Indian cricket to hold a meeting with Kohli and “persuade” him to continue playing Test cricket.

The meeting between this stalwart of Indian cricket and Kohli could take place anytime before 23 May, by which the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel is expected to announce the squad for the England tour.

The BCCI’s urgency is understandable as Rohit Sharma also recently retired from Test cricket . Besides the batting failures in Australia, the double whammy of two big players leaving the team at the same time will be a massive blow to the Indian Test squad.

The Cricbuzz report added that “there is a degree of optimism” that the individual chosen to speak with Kohli could “wield some influence”.

The cricket board is also keen on getting to the bottom of the reasons why Kohli wants to bid goodbye to Test cricket, especially considering that as a captain, the 36-year-old was known for promoting and prioritising the longer format.

Kohli also boasts a strong record in Tests, having scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46. In fact, he had an average of over 50, which came down only recently with his poor form of late.

The BCCI hopes that Kohli will extend his career in Tests a bit longer, which will also allow him to get to 10,000 Test runs.

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