May 12, 2025 – New Delhi — Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious red-ball career that spanned 14 years, 123 Tests, and an era-defining leadership stint. Kohli, who has been a cornerstone of Indian Test cricket since his debut in 2011, made the announcement through a heartfelt message on social media.
“It’s Not Easy – But It Feels Right”
In his emotional statement, Kohli wrote:
"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."
"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 leaves the longest format of the game as one of
India's greatest-ever Test cricketers, both as a batsman and a captain.
Virat Kohli's Test Career: A Look at the Numbers
|
Category |
Stats |
|
Test
Matches Played |
123 |
|
Innings |
221 |
|
Runs
Scored |
9230 |
|
Batting
Average |
46.85 |
|
Centuries
(100s) |
29 |
|
Half-Centuries
(50s) |
31 |
|
Highest
Score |
254* vs
South Africa (2019) |
|
Debut |
June
20, 2011 vs West Indies |
|
Last
Test |
December
2024 vs Australia |
|
Matches
as Captain |
68 |
|
Wins
as Captain |
40
(India’s most successful) |
|
Test
Centuries Overseas |
13 |
Captaincy Legacy: India's Most Successful Test Skipper
Kohli took over India’s Test captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2014
and led the side in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them—making him India’s most
successful Test captain ever. Under his leadership, India reached new heights,
including:
- Staying
undefeated at home for five consecutive years.
- Reaching
the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021.
- Historic
series win in Australia (2018-19).
- Winning
in West Indies, Sri Lanka, and dominating South Africa and England at
home.
Golden Run Between 2016–2018
Between 2016 and 2018, Kohli was arguably the best Test
batsman in the world. In this period:
- 2016:
1215 runs @ 75.93
- 2017:
1059 runs @ 75.64
- 2018:
1322 runs @ 55.08
- Overall
(2016–2018): 3596 runs in 35 Tests @ 66.59, with 14 centuries
His twin centuries in Adelaide in 2014, the 2018 redemption
tour of England where he scored 583 runs, and his masterclass 254* in Pune
remain unforgettable highlights of his red-ball journey.
End of an Era
Kohli’s decision to retire comes on the heels of a broader
generational shift in Indian cricket. Rohit Sharma retired from Tests earlier
this month, while legends like R. Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara
have either stepped away or are out of the current plans. The leadership baton
now looks set to pass to Shubman Gill, marking the dawn of a new chapter.
Though Kohli hadn’t been in top form recently—with just two
centuries since 2023—his presence, experience, and intensity remained
invaluable. The selectors reportedly wanted him for the upcoming England
series, but Kohli felt it was the right time to step away.
Having retired from T20Is after India’s World Cup triumph in
2024 and now from Tests, Kohli will focus solely on ODI cricket. He remains one
of the few players in BCCI’s elite A+ contract list, reserved for those
performing across all formats.
As he signs off from the whites, Virat Kohli leaves behind a
towering legacy—built not just on numbers, but on passion, intensity, and an
unrelenting pursuit of excellence.
“I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,”
Kohli said—and millions of fans will too.
#269 Signing Off
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