Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from Test cricket has sent shockwaves through Indian and world cricket, but reports suggest the decision wasn’t made overnight. According to a report in Cricbuzz, Kohli had long been contemplating stepping away from the longest format, a choice shaped by poor form, dressing room changes, and a devoid of challenges. According to the report, Kohli felt detached in the new set-up. The former captain, who once redefined fitness standards and won more Tests than anyone for India, reportedly felt out of sync with the management. The dressing room atmosphere, once familiar and supportive during Ravi Shastri's coaching tenure, had reportedly shifted. He was said to be missing the energy, and backing that previously fueled his leadership and performance. Notably, Kohli's performances in the past couple of years were below his standards. In his last ten Test matches, Kohli managed only 382 runs with an average of 22.47, including one hundred and one fifty. Virat Kohli's Test Retirement Wasn’t Voluntary? Claims Report Kohli reportedly had been vocal about wanting to anchor India’s Test transition. He last captained the side in January 2022 but was not considered for a return to leadership. With a new World Test Championship cycle beginning, the BCCI preferred a long-term vision with younger leadership, potentially led by Shubman Gill. That effectively ruled out a comeback for Kohli in a central leadership role. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) Spoke to Shastri and Agarkar before the call The Cricbuzz report also mentioned that Kohli had conversations with people close to him, including former head coach Ravi Shastri, before finalising his decision. While there were plans for meetings with BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla and a chat with ex-secretary Jay Shah, it's unclear how far those discussions progressed. Sources say Kohli also spoke to chief selector Ajit Agarkar multiple times over the phone, but none of those exchanges changed his mind. The call was personal and final. Also READ: How Much Did Virat Kohli Make Per Test Match? Find Out Interestingly, some insiders believe Kohli might have continued playing had he been given a more defined role or challenge. But with his batting form dipping and with most of his former teammates and staff having moved on, the environment had shifted too far from what once fueled his hunger. Despite speculation, reports maintain there was no direct link between Kohli’s exit and Rohit Sharma’s recent retirement. Still, the timing of both retirements has added fuel to theories about dressing room conflict.