Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket and it’s an emotional end to a 14 year journey in the longest format of the game.
He announced it just before the England series and fans all over the country are heartbroken. Kohli who was the face of India’s modern Test revival said in a heartfelt post:
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“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the Test cap for India. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”
Key Stats and Milestones:
Kohli retires with an amazing record:
123 Test matches
9,230 runs at an average of 48.7
30 centuries and 31 fifties
68 Tests as captain, 40 wins — most by any Indian Test captain
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He made his debut in 2011 against West Indies and played his last Test in early 2025 in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Kohli’s last series was tough. He started with a century in the first Test in Perth but his form dipped as the series progressed.
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He scored just 190 runs in five matches, 85 of those in the last four Tests. Eight of his ten dismissals were caught behind or in the slips, showing his struggle with the moving ball. But his intent and body language was as intense as ever.
Kohli’s retirement comes at a transition period for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma also stepping away from Tests, the team is in a change.
While Kohli’s decision may feel sudden to fans, it may have been building up for some time.
His recent form, the pressure of expectations and maybe a desire to preserve his legacy may have contributed to the timing. Kohli said:
“As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right.”
For many though it feels like a goodbye that came too soon. Kohli’s departure from Test cricket leaves behind a legacy—of aggression, discipline and belief.
He made fitness and fast bowling central to India’s Test plans. His captaincy saw India win overseas and reach the top of the ICC Test rankings.
More than anything he brought unmatched passion to the format. As tributes pour in from former players, teammates and fans one thing is certain: Indian Test cricket will not be the same without Virat Kohli.
