Virat Kohli Bids Farewell to Test Cricket After Glorious 14-Year Career

 In a significant moment for Indian cricket, Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on a distinguished career spanning 14 years in the longest format. The former Indian captain made the announcement through an emotional Instagram post, marking the end of an era defined by passion, grit, and unmatched consistency.

Kohli, 36, retires having played 123 Test matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. His red-ball career includes 30 centuries and 31 fifties, including a record-setting seven double hundreds—the most by an Indian and fifth on the all-time global list led by the legendary Don Bradman.

“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites,” Kohli wrote. “The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but stay with you forever.” Reflecting on his journey, he added, “Test cricket tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”

Kohli made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston. His final appearance came in the Sydney Test earlier this year, where he registered scores of 17 and 6 in a match that now serves as a bookend to one of the most impactful careers in Indian cricket history.

While he retires just 770 runs shy of the coveted 10,000-run milestone, Kohli’s legacy in Test cricket remains firmly etched in the record books. Beyond the numbers, he redefined India’s approach to Test cricket with an unyielding focus on fitness, aggression, and a results-oriented mindset.

As a captain, Kohli led India in 68 Tests—more than any other Indian skipper—registering 40 wins, also an Indian record. His captaincy win percentage of 58.82 ranks third in the history of Test cricket among those who have led in at least 50 matches, cementing his stature as one of the format’s most successful leaders.

“This decision wasn’t easy—but it feels right,” Kohli wrote. “I’ve given this format everything I had. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude—for the game, my teammates, and every supporter who stood by me.”

Kohli will now continue to represent India in One Day Internationals, having already stepped away from T20 Internationals last year.

His decision closely follows the retirement of fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma, who also announced his departure from Test cricket via social media earlier this month. “It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites,” Rohit shared on May 7, expressing similar sentiments of gratitude and pride. Notably, both icons had simultaneously bid farewell to the T20I format following India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the Americas last year.

As the curtains fall on Kohli’s Test journey, Indian cricket bids adieu to one of its most luminous stars—an era-defining batter, an assertive leader, and an unwavering advocate of the game’s purest format.