Goa, June 20 -- As India prepares for a high-stakes five-Test series against England, all eyes are not just on the new squad-but also on who isn't there. The absence of Virat Kohli, now retired from Test cricket, looms large over the series. Kohli shocked the cricketing world in May 2025 when he announced his retirement from the longest format, just ahead of the England tour squad announcement. After a glittering 14-year red-ball career, the timing caught many off guard.

His decision followed a challenging 2024-25 season, where he scored just one century in ten Tests-well below his usual benchmark. Cricket legends like Adam Gilchrist and Geoffrey Boycott have praised Kohli's self-awareness, suggesting his move was driven by both form and...