‘Virat was a bit bitter’: Former India cricketer delivers big verdict on Kohli’s Test retirement

Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket may have come as a surprise to many, but former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes the star batsman was unhappy with the way his exit was handled. Jaffer believes that Kohli could have continued to play the longest format and said that the circumstances surrounding his retirement could have been handled better.“Yes, absolutely. I mean, it seemed like Virat was a bit bitter about the way things were being handled,” Jaffer said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by India Today.“A player like Virat brings crowds to the stadium; he has such a huge following. He could definitely have played more Test cricket. Until we hear directly from Virat what the actual situation was, we won’t know for sure.”Kohli’s retirement came after months of uncertainty over his future in Test cricket. The former Indian captain wanted to continue playing the format and touring England. He also represented Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match in January 2025, underscoring his commitment to red-ball cricket.But the situation is said to have changed in April. Kohli was reportedly disillusioned with the development and later informed the selectors that he did not want to be part of the England tour. Attempts by those close to him and some BCCI officials to persuade him to change his mind were unsuccessful.Jaffer pointed to Kohli’s preparations for the England tour as a reason to question how the situation was handled.“But I mean he was preparing; he was preparing for the England tour. So all those things could have been handled better. Like I said, in terms of some individuals, things could have been handled better,” Jaffer said.Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on 12 May 2025, ending a 14-year career in the format. He scored 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries, in 123 Tests.