Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket, Concludes Glorious 14-Year Journey
Virat Kohli Considering Test Retirement Before England Tour? BCCI Urges Reconsideration Amid Leadership Shift
Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket, bringing an end to an iconic 14-year career in the longest format of the game. The 36-year-old made the announcement on May 12, just weeks before India’s upcoming Test series against England, scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds.
Sharing a heartfelt statement on Instagram, Kohli reflected on his journey:
“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.”
He added:
“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. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me so much more in return. I walk away with a heart full of gratitude.”
Kohli retires as India’s fourth-highest Test run-scorer, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. He played 123 Tests, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His highest Test score was an unbeaten 254 against South Africa in 2019 in Pune.
Kohli debuted in June 2011 against the West Indies in Jamaica, just months after being part of India’s ODI World Cup-winning squad. His final Test appearance came in January 2025 against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Reportedly, Kohli informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision a day before the public announcement. Though a senior official urged him to reconsider, he remained firm.
His retirement follows closely on the heels of Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement on May 7, marking the end of a significant era for Indian cricket.
