Was Agarkar’s Approach a Factor in Kohli’s Test Retirement? Jaffer Weighs In

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has shared his views on Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket, suggesting that chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s approach towards senior players may have been a contributing factor. Kohli’s retirement in May 2025, ahead of India’s England tour, came as a surprise to many. Jaffer speculated that Kohli may have been unhappy with the way Agarkar treated him. Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries in 123 matches.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Jaffer praised Agarkar’s selection committee for its success in limited-overs cricket, including winning major ICC trophies and the Asia Cup. However, he criticised the way some players were handled, questioning decisions involving Suryakumar Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. Jaffer also disagreed with aspects of the handling of Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the decision to appoint Shreyas Iyer as captain soon after the IPL, and the move to remove Rohit from captaincy despite India’s Champions Trophy triumph. While acknowledging Agarkar’s willingness to make tough calls, Jaffer said greater respect for senior players would have been preferable.