Virat Kohli's sudden retirement from Tests came as a shocker for the Indian cricketing fraternity, as the veteran batsman decided to step away from the longest format on 12th May, 2025.
Kohli took to his social media handle to announce his departure, drawing curtains on a 14-year-long illustrious career in the whites.
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The announcement came just days after skipper Rohit Sharma decided to call it a day in the Test format, leaving Team India without the services of their two modern-day greats ahead of the all-important Test series against England in June.
While some argued that the Indian superstar should have continued for five more years at least, and some said Kohli made the right call, Sachin Tendulkar feels that it's entirely a personal decision.
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Sachin Tendulkar reacts to Virat Kohli's retirement from Tests
In a conversation with BBC Sport, the Indian legend was asked if Virat Kohli's sudden retirement from Tests surprised him.
Tendulkar replied that it's entirely a personal decision on a player's part, and it's always easy for an outsider to just pass a comment on what a player should or shouldn't have done.
"It's a personal decision. So, you know, it's easy for an outsider to just pass a loose comment and say then okay, he shouldn't have done, whatever that may be."
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He further clarified that a player understands his own state of mind and how the body is responding before making such calls, and the veteran isn't in any kind of position to make a comment on that.
"An individual understands the state of mind, how the body is responding to the longer format of the game. And it's a personal decision, so it wouldn't be right of me to make any comment on that."
It can be said that Kohli will be dearly missed in the series against England, given his range of experience and the runs he has scored throughout his career. Shubman Gill and co. will play the first Test on Friday, June 20, at the Headingly Cricket Ground in Leeds.