Finance
Virat Kohli, an Indian cricket legend and former captain, revealed on Monday that he is retiring from Test cricket.
The decision came after Kohli was reported to have informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his choice ahead of next month’s five-match Test series against England.
“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 in his Instagram post.
“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. #269, signing off,” he added.
In less than a week, both Kohli and Rohit Sharma have retired from the game’s longest format, leaving the Indian squad with little batting experience.
Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been a key component of India’s red-ball comeback over the last decade. His aggressive captaincy, prolific batting, and unrivalled intensity have helped India become a strong Test team both at home and overseas.
Kohli will end his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 matches at an excellent average of 46.85, including 30 hundreds and 51 half-centuries. He retires as the fourth-most successful Test skipper all-time, after only Graeme Smith (53 victories), Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Steve Waugh (41 wins).
Kohli has 30 Test centuries, making him India’s fourth-most successful batsman, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (51 hundreds), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34). Kohli also scored seven Test double hundreds, the highest ever by an Indian. He also has the most Test hundreds of any Indian captain, with Gavaskar (11 centuries) far behind his 20 tons.
The right-handed hitter declared his retirement from the T20I format following India’s World Cup victory last year. The 36-year-old will now exclusively play ODI cricket for India.
