Kathmandu:
Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest cricketers, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career in the game’s longest format.
The former captain played 123 Test matches, making his debut in 2011 against the West Indies. Since the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar in 2013, Kohli has been India’s premier batter and a central figure in the global cricketing landscape.
“As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right,” Kohli shared in an emotional post on Instagram. “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.”
Kohli, 36, made his announcement just days after teammate Rohit Sharma also stepped away from Test cricket. Their departures leave a significant gap in the Indian lineup ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against England starting June 20.
Over his Test career, Kohli scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. He also captained India in 68 Tests, winning 40 — the most by any Indian captain. His tally of seven double centuries in Tests is also the highest by an Indian, surpassing Tendulkar’s six.
Beyond the statistics, Kohli’s legacy is deeply rooted in his passionate leadership and fierce competitiveness. He played a pivotal role in elevating India to the top of the ICC Test rankings and led the side to a historic first Test series victory in Australia in 2018.
“I am 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,” he wrote. “I will always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off.”
Kohli retires as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests, behind only Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122). He also ranks fourth in all-time Test wins as captain globally, trailing Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Stephen Waugh.
With over 271 million followers on Instagram and nearly 68 million on X (formerly Twitter), Kohli remains one of the most recognizable figures in world cricket.
While his Test journey ends, he is expected to continue playing ODIs and remains active in the Indian Premier League — though the tournament is currently paused due to escalating military tensions with Pakistan.
As the cricketing world absorbs the news, tributes have poured in. “Thank you, Virat Kohli. An era ends in Test cricket but the legacy will continue forever,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India posted on X. “His contributions to Team India will forever be cherished.”
Source: AP