India, June 3 -- The void left by Virat Kohli's Test retirement continues to hang over Indian cricket like a cloud that refuses to drift. Kohli announced his retirement from the longest format last month, ending a career which saw India reach new heights as a Test-playing nation. However, there were, and continue to remain, many raised eyebrows about not just the decision, but the timing of it. Kohli's announcement came roughly a month before the England Test series, and the batter had shown no indication about leaving the format in the recent past.

Amid the predictable chatter about new leadership, generational transition, and red-ball preparations, an unexpected narrative has started to unravel, one full of intrigue and speculations. W...