India, Oct. 17 -- BCCI chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar revealed that the selection panel would have liked to see Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in India's Test squad for the high-profile England series earlier this year, but both stalwarts had already made up their minds about stepping away from the format.

Agarkar addressed the speculation surrounding the sudden retirements of India's two senior-most batters from Test cricket, particularly after Rohit Sharma had publicly expressed excitement about the England series just weeks before his announcement.

"Both of them have been stalwarts of Indian cricket," Agarkar told NDTV. "They both approached. they felt it was a new WTC cycle and, whatever people might think or not think, that is th...