Virat Kohli, one of India’s most prominent cricketers, has decided to retire from Test cricket after a career spanning 14 years, in which he played 123 games – captaining in 68. Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an impressive average of 46.85, marking his legacy with 30 centuries.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,” Kohli reflected in a social media note. “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. Playing in whites is deeply personal. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.” Kohli admitted the decision to retire wasn’t easy but felt it was right, expressing deep gratitude for the game and the people involved in his journey.
Ahead of India’s important five-match series in England commencing on 20 June, Kohli informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision, having discussed it with officials for over a month. Despite a less prolific time recently – with a notable century in Perth last November being his first in over a year – Kohli’s experience was still valued by team management and selectors, particularly with Shubman Gill poised to succeed Rohit Sharma as captain following Sharma’s retirement.
This period of transition sees other stalwarts like R Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, and potentially Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane stepping aside or out of form, with Mohammed Shami’s recent performance under the microscope. This leaves players such as KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah as the continuing thread of a successful era marked by reaching two consecutive World Test Championship finals, the first with Kohli as captain.
Kohli’s Test journey began quietly in 2011 against the West Indies but soon hinted at his potential with promising innings later that year. Now, as he retires from the format, Kohli continues to be a significant presence in the sport, having retired earlier from T20 internationals following India’s World Cup victory. He remains contracted under the BCCI’s top category, A+, focusing solely on ODIs hereafter.
Kohli’s exit from Test cricket marks the end of an impactful chapter, yet India looks forward to the new leadership under Gill and the team’s evolution.
