Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has declared his retirement from Test cricket, following the lead of his teammate and former captain Rohit Sharma, just a month ahead of their five-match series in England.
Kohli, a former captain, is celebrated as one of the finest batters to represent India and the world, amassing 9,230 runs from 123 Test matches during his illustrious career.
He concludes his Test career with a commendable average of 46.85, having scored 30 centuries, including a top score of 254 against South Africa in 2019, along with 31 half-centuries.
While his career ends at the end of a tough spell with the bat following inconsistency in the middle, Kohli was known as one of the most destructive red-ball batters in the game.
‘It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,’ the 36-year-old posted on social media.
Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket after 123 matches for India
No Indian batter has ever scored more Test centuries while captain than Kohli’s 20 tons
While he struggled for consistency late in his career Kohli departs with a Test average of 46.85
‘Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.
‘There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.
‘As I step away from this format, it’s not easy – but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for.
‘I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude – for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.’
As captain, Kohli steered India to a long stint as world No 1, and secured their first ever away series win in Australia, and was thought to be a huge figure in driving fitness standards within Indian cricket.
In terms of winning numbers, Kohli’s 40 victories from 68 Tests make him one of his countries most successful skippers of all time, and his 20 tons make him the most prolific centurion leading the side.
In fact, only Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh won more matches as captain in the history of the game.
With Kohli at the helm, India reached the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, where they lost to New Zealand in one of just 17 defeats for the iconic batter.
According to reports, he had informed the Indian board of his decision to retire from Test cricket back in April
Even without bat in hand the 36-year-old was known as one of the biggest competitors
Kohli ends his career in the longest form of the game having become India’s most successful captain before stepping aside for Rohit Sharma
He was also part of the team that lost the second World Test Championship final to Australia in 2023.
Aside from the statistics, Kohli is known as one of the bigger personalities in cricket, never far from the heart of the action, even without a bat in hand, playing the game with a ferocious intensity and competitiveness.
His fame in India in particular is almost incomparable, boasting an enormous profile both domestically, as well as among the cricketing world, and has a following of over 270million on Instagram alone.
According to reports, the Indian board were informed of his decision back in April that he intended to retire before the upcoming five-match series in England, having told chief selector Ajit Agarkar.
The first Test will be played at Headingly on June 20-24, before matches at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval.
Tributes flooded social media in the wake of the news, with his Indian Premier League side Royal Challengers Bengaluru writing on X: ‘ The curtain falls on a monumental Test Era But his legacy lives on, etched in time and carved in pride.
‘Thank you, Virat Kohli, for the fire, the bravery, and the unmatched passion. You didn’t just play this format, you elevated it.’
