Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket after playing for 14 amazing years. He played 123 Test matches for India and scored 9230 runs with an average of 46.85. Out of these, he led the team as captain in 68 matches. His journey in Test cricket has been full of hard work, strong performances, and unforgettable memories.
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| "Thank You, King Kohli – 14 Years of Test Greatness" Image Source:- Times of India |
A Heartfelt Goodbye
In an emotional message on social media, Kohli said that wearing the white jersey was very special to him. He said that Test cricket tested him, taught him many lessons, and helped him grow as a person. He shared that leaving the format was not easy, but it felt like the right time. He thanked the game, his teammates, and all the fans who supported him.
Shared His Decision Before the England Tour
Before India’s important five-match Test series in England starting June 20, Kohli had told the BCCI that he wanted to retire from Test cricket. He had been speaking with the cricket board for about a month before making the announcement.
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| Instagram Post Caption of Virat Kholi |
His Recent Form Was Not Strong
In the last two years, Kohli did not score many runs in Test matches. He finally scored a century in Perth in November 2024 after a gap of more than a year. His average had dropped to 32.56 over the last 24 months, compared to his peak average of 55.10 in 2019.
Team Still Wanted His Experience
Even though Kohli wasn’t scoring as much recently, the team management and selectors still wanted his experience for the England tour. India will now play under a new Test captain, and Shubman Gill is expected to take over after Rohit Sharma also retired from Test cricket earlier this week.
Other Senior Players Also Retired
Many other big players have stepped away from Test cricket too. R Ashwin retired from international cricket last year. Pujara and Rahane are not in the team anymore, and Shami is coming back from injury. Now, only KL Rahul, Jadeja, and Bumrah remain from the old team that played in two World Test Championship finals.
Kohli and Rohit Will Now Play Only ODIs
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were in the highest category of the BCCI contract list. But now, both have retired from T20 and Test formats. They will now play only One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India.
A Look Back at His Test Journey
Kohli started his Test career in 2011 during the West Indies tour. He didn’t do well in his first few matches, but he showed improvement later that year in Mumbai. His first Test century came in 2012 during a tough tour in Australia.
Big Moment in 2014-15 Australia Tour
Kohli’s big moment came in the 2014-15 series in Australia. He scored many centuries and made a total of 692 runs in that series. He became the captain after MS Dhoni retired from Test cricket during that tour. Kohli then became India’s full-time Test captain.
India’s Most Successful Test Captain
Kohli led India in 68 Test matches and won 40 of them. This made him the most successful Test captain in Indian history. Only three other captains in the world have won more Test matches than him — Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh.
Amazing Performance in England 2018
One of Kohli’s proudest moments was during the 2018 England tour. He was the highest run-scorer of the series with 583 runs and two centuries. This was even more special because in the 2014 England tour, he had struggled badly.
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Golden Years of His Test Career
Between 2016 and 2018, Kohli was in top form. He scored over 3500 runs in just three years with 14 centuries and 8 fifties. His batting average during this time was over 66, showing how brilliant he was.
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