Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket

In less than a week of Rohit Sharma bidding farewell to Test cricket, another giant of the modern game, Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from the format, bringing an emotional end to an era that shaped Indian cricket’s identity over the past decade. Kohli broke the news on Monday through an Instagram story, thanking the game for a journey that spanned over 14 years.

Kohli, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011, went on to become one of India’s greatest-ever red-ball players. In 111 matches, he scored 8,848 runs, including 27 centuries and 28 half-centuries. But his impact extended far beyond statistics. Under his leadership, India not only dominated at home but also registered landmark wins overseas—most notably, a historic Test series victory in Australia, the first ever by an Indian team on Australian soil.

He captained India in 68 Test matches and remains India’s most successful Test captain, with 40 wins to his name. One of his most remarkable feats was leading the team through 42 consecutive Test matches—a record for any Indian captain. It was under his tenure that India reached the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship, further cementing his place among the sport’s great leaders.

Through his post, Kohli reflected on what Test cricket had meant to him, calling it the format that tested him the most and taught him life lessons that extended beyond the field. He shared that playing in whites held something deeply personal for him—the quiet grind, the unseen effort, and the small yet unforgettable moments that shaped his journey.

Click to see his Instagram post

Though Kohli admitted that stepping away from the format was not easy, he felt it was the right time. He said he had given everything to the game and in return, it had given him more than he could ever have asked for. He ended his message with a note of gratitude—for the game, his teammates, and fans who supported him throughout.

As India watches two of its batting stalwarts walk away from Test cricket within days of each other, the end of this chapter marks not just personal retirements but the closing of one of the most dominant and charismatic eras in Indian Test cricket.