India’s batting stalwart Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from the longest format of the game, ending his 14-year test career.
With his impressive batting records, Virat Kohli’s most enduring legacy may well be his tenure as India’s test captain, where he transformed the team’s identity with aggression, intensity and unmatched game display.
Over his test career, he has played 123 tests – 68 of them as captain in which he scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85.
“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 said in a social media statement on Monday morning.
“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.
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶! 🙌
An era ends in Test cricket but the legacy will continue FOREVER! 🫡🫡@imVkohli, the former Team India Captain retires from Test cricket.
His contributions to #TeamIndia will forever be cherished! 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/MSe5KUtjep
— BCCI (@BCCI) May 12, 2025
“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.”
Virat Kohli had communicated his desire to retire from test cricket to the BCCI ahead of the big five match series in England starting June 20, for which he was expected to be part of the squad.
It is learned that the stalwart has been having conservations on the matter with officials of the BCCI for the past month or so.
Despite that, it is understood that the team management and selectors wanted his experience on the England tour, where India will be playing under a new captain Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to take over from Rohit Sharma following his retirement from Test Cricket.
Apart from Rohit, Ashwin had also retired from international cricket last year. The senior batters, Kohli and Rohit which is usally meant for players who play all three international formats.
But with their retirement from T20Is and Tests, they will be only available for ODI cricket. The upcoming test series will be a testify for the young test ahead of the five match test series against England.
