India crisis talks fail as Virat Kohli confirms Test retirement before England series

Indian superstar has announced his retirement from Test with immediate effect - meaning that he'll play no part in this summer's tour of England. Kohli, 36, has been with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over his future.

Team-mate and captain announced his retirement from Test cricket last week and days later it emerged that Kohli had informed the BCCI of his decision. It was reported that Indian chiefs had urged the legendary batsman to reconsider and at least stay on until India have completed their five-match Test series in England which ends in August.

But Kohli has stuck to his original decision and won't feature at Headingley on June 20 when the hotly-anticipated series begins. On , he wrote: "It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket.

"Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life. There's something deeply personal about playing in whites.

"The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. As I step away from this format, it's not easy - but it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for.

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"I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude - for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile. 269, signing off."

His post gathered more than six million likes within an hour of being posted, as fans paid tribute to his Test career which saw him score 9,230 runs in 123 matches, captaining India on 68 occasions. Like Sharma, Kohli will still be available for one-day internationals.

Should Virat Kohli have delayed his retirement? Have your say in the .

The 36-year-old has already retired from the T20 format, although he could make a return to represent India at the in Los Angeles. In a recent interview, Kohli quipped: "I don't know, maybe if we are playing for the gold medal, I just might sneak in for one game, get a medal, and come back home."

Both Sharma and Kohli were the subject of criticism during India's 3-1 series to defeat in in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. Kohli averaged 23.75 runs while Sharma's poor form saw him drop himself for the final Test.

Star bowler Jasprit Bumrah is understood to have ruled himself out of the Test captaincy, with Shubman Gill emerging as the frontrunner to lead India. Rishabh Pant is another contender.