Former India batter Wasim Jaffer believes Virat Kohli may have been unhappy with the way he was treated during Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as India’s chief selector, suggesting that the situation could have influenced the former captain’s decision to retire from Test cricket. Kohli announced his retirement from the longest format on May 12, 2025, ahead of India’s tour of England. His decision came just days after Rohit Sharma also stepped away from Test cricket.

However, unlike Rohit’s announcement, Kohli’s retirement was not preceded by reports that the selectors had informed him he was no longer required in the Test setup. Jaffer pointed out that Kohli had reportedly been preparing for the England tour, as claimed by Delhi coach Sarandeep Singh at the time. The former India opener felt the star batter could have continued playing red-ball cricket.

“It felt like Virat was a bit bitter about the way he was treated. A player like Virat brings people to the ground. He has such a following. He definitely could have played more Test cricket,” Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube channel.

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He added that Virat Kohli’s exact reasons would remain unclear until the batter addressed the matter himself. Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as chairman of India’s senior men’s selection committee ended earlier this month, with former India spinner Pragyan Ojha appointed interim chief selector.

Assessing Agarkar’s three-year stint, Jaffer gave him a rating of seven out of 10. He credited the former India pacer for the team’s impressive achievements in white-ball cricket but questioned his handling of certain players and selection decisions.

Jaffer referred to captaincy changes involving Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, as well as the situations surrounding Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran.

“We have done very well in white-ball cricket. We won two World Cups, the Asia Cup, and the Champions Trophy. So we have won trophies. I would give him 7 marks out of 10. I think how he handled some people could have been better,” Wasim Jaffer said.

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Despite his criticism, Jaffer acknowledged that Agarkar had made difficult decisions during his tenure. India’s major white-ball successes included the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2025 Champions Trophy and the 2026 T20 World Cup. While Agarkar’s record includes significant silverware, Jaffer’s assessment highlighted the debate surrounding player management and selection during his time in charge.