Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket: In a development that has left cricket fans across the globe stunned, Indian cricketing legend Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket. After a remarkable 14-year-long journey, Kohli is stepping away from the red-ball format, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the modern era of Indian Test cricket.
Kohli shared the emotional news via an Instagram post on May 12, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the game and those who supported him throughout his career. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on,” he wrote. He went on to describe the rigors and rewards of the format, calling Test cricket a personal and formative part of his life.
The 35-year-old finished his Test career with a staggering 9230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 46.85 and notching up 30 centuries. Beyond the numbers, Kohli will be remembered as one of the fiercest competitors and passionate advocates for Test cricket during an era where shorter formats took center stage.
Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket: A Hero’s Final Walk in Whites
Kohli’s retirement marks the end of an era not just for Indian cricket but for the global game. Taking over the captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2014, Kohli transformed the Indian Test team into a formidable force, especially in overseas conditions. His aggressive approach, emphasis on fitness, and unrelenting drive made India the No.1 Test team for five consecutive years under his leadership.
He guided India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, a feat that had eluded the team for 71 years. That tour, especially his hundred on a green-top wicket at Perth, solidified Kohli’s reputation as one of the finest batsmen of his generation. His confrontations with the Australian pace trio of Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood became iconic, reflecting the fire that defined his cricketing soul.
Some of his most memorable innings came under intense pressure. In 2018, Kohli erased the ghost of his disastrous 2014 England tour by scoring 149 and 103 in Birmingham and Nottingham, respectively. His battle with England’s James Anderson is still regarded as one of the greatest duels between bat and ball in modern Test history.
Kohli’s journey wasn’t without challenges. After peaking between 2016 and 2018, where he scored multiple double centuries, including a career-best 235, he hit a slump post-2019. His last century came against Australia in 2023 on a flat Ahmedabad pitch, ending a long drought since his pink-ball ton against Bangladesh in 2019.
Despite the dip in form, his influence never waned. His leadership style, marked by intensity, aggression, and an unwavering belief in fast bowling, changed how India approached Test cricket. He nurtured a new generation of pace bowlers and instilled a fearless attitude in the team, helping them succeed on hostile foreign pitches.
Kohli’s retirement follows closely after the exits of Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, suggesting a generational shift in Indian cricket reminiscent of the post-2012 transitions following the retirements of stalwarts like Dravid, Laxman, and Tendulkar.
According to sources, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had hoped to convince Kohli to continue a bit longer. Several influential voices in Indian cricket reportedly urged him to stay on. However, the final decision was his own.
His farewell message concluded with a touch of poetry: “#269, signing off.” A simple yet profound line that underlined the emotion of the moment.
Virat Kohli’s final appearance in whites came in January 2025 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), a fitting location for a swansong, considering his many milestones there as both player and captain.
As the cricketing world comes to terms with the departure of one of its greatest Test players, one thing is certain—Virat Kohli’s contributions will echo through the history of the game. He leaves not just with records, but with a legacy of heart, fire, and unrelenting passion.
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