NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s unexpected decision to retire from Test cricket has left the cricketing world stunned, and his former Delhi and Ranji coach Sarandeep Singh is no exception. In a surprising revelation, the ex-India spinner claimed that Kohli had shown no signs of stepping away from the red-ball format and was actively preparing for India’s upcoming tour of England.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Not at all,” Sarandeep said when asked if Kohli hinted at retiring. “He came to play red-ball cricket (in Ranji Trophy), so he had no thinking like that. Even at that time, he was talking about the England series with the test matches that are coming. So, he was going to play there. “And this time, he would be very much prepared. He said he was going to score maximum hundreds, which he did the last time in 2018 when he went to England. He scored a lot of runs over there. There was nothing like that when he came to play Ranji Trophy matches. “We thought that we would see him on the England tour. He is one of the most senior players. Especially, the England tour is very tough. So, without him, I don’t know how the Indian team will manage now.”Kohli had rejoined Delhi’s Ranji squad earlier this year for the game against Railways, signalling his intent to get more game time ahead of the tough overseas series.

According to Sarandeep, the 36-year-old was eager to score big in England once more, reminiscent of his brilliant 593-run haul during the 2018 tour.Kohli’s retirement came ahead of the crucial five-match Test series against England, which also serves as the opening leg of India’s World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle.

With 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, and a captaincy record of 40 wins in 68 matches, Kohli leaves behind an extraordinary legacy.His final series, the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, was a mixed bag. Despite a century in the opening Test at Perth, his overall returns were modest, and his vulnerability against the moving ball showed.Still, many believed he had one final chapter left in England. His sudden exit has left a void, not just in the Indian line-up, but also among fans who hoped to see their champion sign off on his own terms.