Virat Kohli, the iconic Indian cricketer, has announced his retirement from Test cricket at the age of 36, concluding a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game. His decision comes shortly after former captain Rohit Sharma also retired from Test cricket, marking the end of an era for Indian cricket.
🏏 Career Highlights
Test Matches Played: 123
Runs Scored: 9,230
Batting Average: 46.85
Centuries: 30
Matches as Captain: 68 (most successful Indian Test captain)
Notable Performances: His last Test century came in November 2024 in Perth.
📰 Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket
📅 Announcement Date:
May 12, 2025
🏷️ Tagline:
“269 Signing Off” – A symbolic reference to his final Test cap number.
📜 Retirement Statement
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket via a heartfelt post on Instagram. He described Test cricket as the “most sacred format” and called his journey “deeply personal.” He said it taught him about resilience, discipline, and character, and he feels fulfilled and ready to move on. Kohli emphasized that he gave the format everything he had and is retiring without any regrets.
👑 Captaincy Legacy
Most successful Indian Test captain
Instilled aggressive, fitness-focused culture
Revamped India's fast-bowling arsenal with consistent overseas performances
Back-to-back Test series wins in Australia (2018 and 2021)
Known for bold team selections and taking risks
🌍 Broader Impact on Indian Cricket
Kohli’s fierce commitment to Test cricket brought back prestige to the format during an age dominated by T20s.
Under his leadership, India became known for winning overseas and playing aggressive cricket.
He mentored the next generation including players like Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah.
🧭 Why Now?
Age: Kohli is 36 years old.
Physical toll: Test cricket is the most demanding format.
With Rohit Sharma also recently retiring from Tests, it signals a broader transition within Indian cricket.
Kohli wants to focus on white-ball formats, including ODIs and the IPL.
Future Plans
Continues in ODIs: Likely to play in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy and future ICC tournaments
Active in IPL: Still a key figure with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Mentorship Role: Expected to guide youngsters and possibly take up a coaching or commentary role post-retirement
🧠 Legacy Summary
One of India’s greatest modern Test batsmen
Changed the face of Indian Test cricket
Brought passion, aggression, and excellence to the whites
Ends career with dignity, grace, and immense respect
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