Virat Kohli’s exit from Tests: Wasim Jaffer makes explosive claim
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Cricket: Former India batter Wasim Jaffer has stirred controversy by suggesting that Virat Kohli's shock retirement from Test cricket in 2025 may have been driven by bitterness over how he was treated by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel, according to reports.
Kohli announced his retirement shortly after Rohit Sharma stepped away from the longest format during IPL 2025, leaving Indian cricket facing major questions ahead of the five-Test tour of England. Kohli's decision particularly stunned fans, as he had been preparing for the England assignment.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer indicated that Kohli might have felt unfairly treated by the selectors. He also stressed that a player of Kohli's stature, with his immense popularity and ability to draw crowds, could have continued playing Test cricket for longer.
The retirement had previously placed then-chief selector Agarkar under scrutiny, with reports suggesting that the selection panel may have influenced Kohli's decision. However, Kohli has not publicly confirmed that account, and the circumstances behind his retirement remain unclear.
Kohli walked away with several significant milestones still within reach. He was two matches short of 125 Tests, 770 runs away from becoming the fourth Indian to score 10,000 Test runs, and five centuries short of reaching 35 Test hundreds.
His final Test series came during India's tour of Australia at the beginning of 2025, where he managed just 190 runs across five matches at an average of 23.75.
Jaffer's remarks have reignited debate over whether Indian cricket lost one of its biggest Test stars earlier than expected and whether tensions with the selection setup played a role in the decision.