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Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli (Source:X)
In a recent development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has finally addressed the rumours surrounding Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket and his relationship with India head coach Gautam Gambhir.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made it clear that Virat Kohli's decision to step away from Test cricket was completely his own and that no individual or authority forced him into retirement.
Did Virat Kohli forcefully retired from Test cricket?
Speculation began last year when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their Test retirements within a week of each other, just ahead of India's tour of England.
The timing of their decisions sparked rumours that the team management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, wanted to move on from the senior players in the longest format.
Responding to these reports, Devajit Saikia strongly denied the allegations. Speaking on the India Today Podcast, he said that a player of Kohli's stature cannot be influenced or pressured into making such a big career decision.
"Nobody can force a player of the stature of Virat Kohli to change and make a decision. He is at that level. He is not an ordinary player; he is a legend in Indian cricket. Nobody can force him to make a decision unless he chooses to. The board will not interfere in any player's career," Saikia explained.
It is worth noting that Rohit Sharma's retirement from Tests also led to major changes in the team. Shubman Gill was appointed as the Men in Blue's new Test captain.
Later, Rohit was also replaced as India's ODI captain, with selectors stating that the move was made keeping the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind.
The changes raised questions about the future of both Rohit and Kohli, who are left playing only one format. However, Saikia dismissed the narrative that senior players were being sidelined forcefully.
BCCI clears air on Kohli–Gambhir rumours amid retirement speculation
The BCCI secretary also addressed rumours of a strained relationship between Kohli and Gambhir, which reportedly intensified after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The BCCI secretary said he has never witnessed any conflict between the two and described their relationship as professional and cordial.
“I have never seen them fighting. They are in a very good cordial relationship,” he said.
Kohli and Rohit continue red-hot form in ODIs
Despite the noise around their places in the ODI team, both Kohli and Rohit have responded strongly with their performances. Kohli, in particular, has been in outstanding form in the 50-over format.
Kohli retired from T20Is in 2024 after India's T20 World Cup triumph. Since then, he has focused on ODIs, where his numbers speak for themselves.
In 2025, Kohli played 13 ODIs and scored 651 runs at an impressive average of 65.10 with a strike rate of 96.16. His form has reached another level in 2026, with him already scoring 240 runs in just three matches at an average of 80.00 and a strike rate of 105.26.
It is vital to note that both Kohli and Rohit have expressed their desire to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
