WATCH: Indian football captain Sunil Chettri reveals his feelings on Virat Kohli’s Test retirement

Former Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket left everyone in shock. The 36-year-old decided to walk away from the longest format just before the five-match Test series in England next month. Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, who shares a close bond with Kohli, gave his views on the sudden retirement that shook the world. 

Star Sports uploaded a video where Sunil Chhetri was asked to give his reaction to Kohli’s Test retirement. India’s football skipper was asked if he was surprised with the call, to which he replied, “Not actually, but knowing that he’s in peace and happy, knowing Virat, he must have taken a lot of time to call it off (retirement) in Tests. Even with my naïve knowledge, we all know how much he loves that format.”

Sunil Chhetri also added that the decision may have been tough considering people would have wanted him to stick longer. “So for him to call it a day, even at his peak, people who are his fans will always think that he could have carried on for a while longer. But for him to think about it and say goodbye from a format he loves the most would have been difficult for him. But the good thing is he sounded iatpeace, and he knows what he is doing,” he added. 

Only the BEST knows the BEST! 🙌

Here’s what @chetrisunil11 had to say about @imVkohli hanging up his boots in Tests! 🗣#VK18 🫂 #SC11

📺📲 Watch the special tribute: 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗩𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗧 👉 https://t.co/rp4Dvb3SkGpic.twitter.com/RujmUYmN5J

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 12, 2025

Indian Test cricket set for revamp ahead of new WTC cycle

Earlier, Rohit Sharma had decided to move on from Test cricket a week before Kohli made his call. Ravichandran Ashwin had already retired from all forms of cricket late last year, with Ravindra Jadeja the only surviving senior member. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are in the race to be named as the new Test captain. 

Indian selectors are set to meet on Tuesday to pick the India A side for the two-match series in England. The senior team will be picked in the middle of the revamped IPL season, which is set to begin on 17th May. Names like Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair, and Shardul Thakur are expected to be part of the side for the five-match series starting on 20th June.