New Delhi: Virat Kohli, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers and the country’s most successful Test captain, announced his retirement from Test cricket Monday, drawing the curtain on a 14-year career that redefined Indian red-ball cricket.
The decision, which came just days after Rohit Sharma’s Test exit and on the eve of a crucial England tour, has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, with fans, former players, and experts reacting with disbelief, nostalgia, and gratitude for Kohli’s immense contributions to the longest format.
Kohli made his announcement on social media, sharing a heartfelt note with his followers.
“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 wrote on his social media.
“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. 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. I’m 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. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” Kohli added.
Kohli ended the post with “#269, signing off”—he was the 269th player to represent India in Test cricket.
Kohli’s Test career stands among the most decorated in Indian cricket history. In 123 Tests, he amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. As captain, he led India in 68 matches, winning 40—the most by any Indian skipper. Kohli’s reign saw India rise to the top of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, claim a historic series win in Australia in 2019, and consistently challenge the world’s best sides at home and abroad.
His peak years between 2016 and 2019 were marked by extraordinary consistency, where he scored 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, including 16 centuries. Even as his numbers tapered off in the latter part of his career, his influence—as a batter, leader, and ambassador for Test cricket—remained undiminished.
Reports had suggested that Kohli had informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision, with the Board urging him to reconsider given the high stakes of the upcoming England series. “He has made up his mind and has informed the Board that he is moving on from Test cricket. The BCCI has urged him to rethink as the crucial England tour is coming up. He is yet to revert on the request,” a source involved in the matter told The Indian Express.
It was also reported that a senior figure in Indian cricket would try to speak to Kohli about revising his decision, citing the importance of his experience for a relatively young team set to face England later this year.
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Former cricketers and teammates have echoed these sentiments. Retired Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu posted, “Virat Kohli’s presence crucial for team balance for England!!!”
Ambati Rayudu, too, made a direct appeal on social media, saying, “Virat Kohli please don’t retire.. The Indian team needs you more than ever. You have so much more in the tank. Test cricket will not be the same without you walking out to battle it out for Team India.. Please reconsider..”
Following his retirement announcement, former Indian off spinner Harbhajan Singh posed a direct question for Kohli, “Why Retired ?”
Respected cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle wrote, “I would have liked to see #ViratKohli go out of test cricket before a packed stadium. But since that is not to be let us applaud him wherever we are. He told a generation weaned on T20 cricket that test cricket is cool and aspirational. And for that, the game owes him big time.”
Former Indian cricket opener Aakash Chopra noted that numbers would not define Kohli’s Test legacy. “They’re just a small fraction of what he did in/for the format. Virat, you made a whole generation fall in love with Test cricket again. Thank You for your contribution. Test Cricket will be poorer in your absence,” he posted
Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan wrote, “Congratulations on a phenomenal Test career, Virat Kohli. As captain, you didn’t just win matches-you changed mindsets. You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard. A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket. #ThankYouVirat”
Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal couldn’t hold back from expressing his gratitude for Virat Kohli writing on his Instagram,” Pajji , I grew up watching you play, and from the moment seeing you in that Indian jersey I dreamed of one day doing the same. You’ve been a source of inspiration not just for me, but for an entire generation who fell in love with cricket because of the passion and intensity you brought to the game. The impact you’ve had on Test cricket, and on cricket in India as a whole, is immeasurable. To have had the chance to share the pitch with you — someone I looked up to for so many years — was more than just a privilege; it was a moment I’ll carry with me forever. “
As the dust settles on Kohli’s Test career, his legacy as a player who brought passion, fitness, and belief to Indian cricket will endure. The void he leaves is immense—not just in the runs and records, but in the attitude and ambition he brought to the whites.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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