Virat Kohli Retires From Test Cricket

The former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, has announced his retirement from the longest format to end a 14-year-long and successful career.

He finished as India’s fourth leading run-getter of the format with 9230 runs in 123 games at an average of 46.85 and a strike rate of 55.57, shouldering 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 254 runs.

A few days after Rohit Sharma's Test retirement, the reports claimed that the Delhi batter informed the BCCI selectors about his potential retirement from the longest format before the five-match Test trip to England.

Virat Kohli shares emotional post for fans to bid adieu to Test cricket

Two days of speculation ended with Virat Kohli dropping an Instagram post on leaving the red-ball format. He touched on how this format shaped and taught him lessons that he would carry for the rest of his life.

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“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.” The veteran wrote on his Instagram post.

“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.” Kohli addressed.

The 36-year-old celebrated his last and 30th Test century against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth during the second innings of the opening game of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

Virat Kohli frames it as the right time to leave the format, as he also shared with gratitude for the game and the players he has shared the field with over the years.

“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.” Kohli continued.

“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.” The former Indian captain addressed.

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A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)

The veteran finishes with a statement of how he would keep a smile every time he looks back at his Test career.

Virat Kohli’s Test records

Kohli remains India’s most successful captain in the five-day format with 40 victories in 68 games at a win-loss ratio of 2.35. His biggest glory in this role was shouldering the blue brigade to their very first Test victory down under during the BGT 2018-19.

With seven double centuries, Virat is joint fourth on the list in the longest format. He also sits in the second position with four centuries in a series, as he achieved the feat during the BGT 2014-15 when he took over the leadership of the national side for the very first time.

Looking back, his knocks at Edgbaston or at Newlands, when he shouldered the side alone, would be something that fans would always look back on.

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He enjoyed a golden run with an average of 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, 55.08 in 2018, and 68 in 2019. In three years between 2016 and 2018, the right-handed batter smashed 3596 runs in 35 games at an average of 66.59 with 14 centuries and eight fifties in 58 innings.

India suffers from a lack of experience in Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Without Virat Kohli, India may miss the intensity in the field when they make their trip to England for the start of the fourth Test cycle of the WTC 2025-27.

They will be without two of their most experienced players in the side. The pressure will be huge on the youngsters as they start the opening Test at Leeds on June 20.