RCB To Make Special Arrangements To Celebrate Virat Kohli’s Test Legacy

With India making a trip to England for the five-match Test series to start the third cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27, Virat Kohli’s Test retirement won’t get the right occasion to celebrate by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

That has led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to organize a special function for the Delhi-born during the rescheduled opening game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 on May 17 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

RCB to felicitate Virat Kohli on May 17 for influential Test legacy

Just before the start of the IPL 2025 encounter between Bengaluru and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru, the franchise will felicitate Virat Kohli for his phenomenal contribution to the Test format, when the Indian side was struggling at the bottom of the ranking.

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Kohli, on Monday (May 12), announced his retirement from the red-ball format, after serving the nation for 14 long years with excellent knocks with the bat and leading the side to various memorable games with his incredible energy and intensity.

“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. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.” Virat Kohli wrote on his Instagram account.

“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.” The Delhi batter addressed.

Kohli connected the format with his life’s growth and how he would always look back on the game with a broad smile on his face in the future.

“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.” Virat Kohli stated.

Virat Kohli’s Test legacy

Kohli finished as India’s fourth leading run-getter in the five-day format with 9230 runs in 123 games at an average of 46.85 and a strike rate of 55.57, thanks to 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 254 runs against South Africa in Pune.

But more than his batting, the fans will look back at his leadership. Once a wicket falls, more than the bowler, it’s the Delhi-born who will charge up from the slip corridor to celebrate that on the face of the batter.

In numbers, Kohli finished as the country’s most successful Test leader with 40 wins in 68 clashes, including India’s first Test series victory in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2018-19 down under.

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The fans will look back at the Lord’s Test in 2022 when his inspiring words brought new life among the bowlers as they bundled out the home England side under 60 overs in the last two sessions to collect the victory.

India to miss Virat Kohli’s experience and energy in England

In Virat Kohli’s absence, one of the young players will need to raise their hand to show the same energy and determination to do well in the longest format, and the start will be from the England series to kick off the WTC 2025-27 cycle.

Kohli’s form dipped in the last five years with an average of 31, celebrating three centuries. When he celebrated the 30th century in Perth during the BGT 2024-25, the confidence seemed to be coming back. However, he kept repeating the same mistake regularly and was mentally drained by the end of the trip.