New Delhi, May 12, 2025: Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on a legendary red-ball career just weeks before India’s five-Test tour of England.
The 36-year-old made the announcement on social media Monday, expressing gratitude for a journey that began in 2011 and spanned 123 Tests, 9,230 runs, and countless defining moments.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,” Kohli wrote. “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’s retirement comes days after Test captain Rohit Sharma also stepped away from the longest format, signaling the end of an era in Indian cricket. Kohli is expected to continue playing one-day internationals, having already retired from T20 internationals following India’s 2024 World Cup triumph.
Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011 and went on to become India’s most successful Test captain, leading the team in 68 matches and securing 40 wins — a national record. Under his leadership, India achieved historic series victories abroad and consistently held top rankings in Test cricket.
“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,” he reflected. “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more.”
Kohli retires with 30 Test centuries to his name, the fourth-most by an Indian batter after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. He holds the record for most Test hundreds as an Indian captain with 20.
Long regarded as one of the ‘Fab Four’ of modern Test batting — alongside Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson — Kohli’s form in recent years had seen a decline. His most recent century, an unbeaten 100 against Australia in November, was his first in 15 innings over a 16-month stretch. Since January 2020, he averaged just 30.72 in 39 Tests with only three centuries.
Nonetheless, Kohli’s overall impact on the game remains immense. His passion, fitness-driven approach, and aggressive leadership redefined Indian cricket’s identity in the modern era.
“As I step away, I do so with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for those I played with, and for everyone who supported me through highs and lows. I’ll always look back on my Test career with a smile,” he concluded.
