Sanjay Manjrekar Breaks Silence On Virat Kohli's Retirement

Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Virat Kohli as the cricketer announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025. This ended a 14-year career, which had begun with Kohli’s India debut in 2011 against the West Indies in Jamaica. Kohli played his final Test in Sydney against Australia in January this year.

After playing 123 Test matches for India and amassing 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, Kohli retired.

Kohli was a modern-day great

With a peak score of 254*, he recorded 31 half-centuries and 30 fifties. In 68 Test matches, he captained India and won 40 of them, including the inaugural Test series victory in Australia in 2018–19.

After Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin retired, Kohli's decision to quit Test cricket is a major shift for Indian cricket that hasn't occurred since Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag left in 2012.

#269 signing off: Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket

Kohli informed the BCCI on Saturday of his desire to retire from Test cricket, ahead of the crucial five-match series in England beginning June 20, for which he was anticipated to be part of the squad.

In an Instagram post on Monday (May 12), Kohli wrote, "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.

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. #269, signing off."

Sanjay Manjrekar gives a rich tribute to Virat Kohli

Sanjay Manjrekar paid rich tribute to Virat Kohli after he announced his retirement from Test cricket. Manjrekar is a well-known critic of Virat Kohli. Ever since Kohli started his career, Manjrekar felt that the Delhi lad was not up to the mark when compared to Mumbai’s Rohit Sharma.

Infamously, during the 2011-12 Test series in Australia, Manjrekar had stated that VVS Laxman should be dropped and Kohli should be given just one more test to prove himself before bringing in Rohit Sharma.

However, Manjrekar seemed genuinely grateful for Virat Kohli’s Test career and wished him the best.

“Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli,” Manjrekar posted on X.

Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli. 🙏🙏🙏

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 12, 2025

Also Read: AB de Villiers Reacts To Virat Kohli's Test Retirement