Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket

Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on a remarkable 14-year career. Over the course of 123 Tests — including 68 as captain — he amassed 9230 runs at an impressive 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.

"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."

Kohli had informed the BCCI of his intention to retire from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming five-match series against England, starting June 20 — a series in which he was expected to feature. It is understood that Kohli had been in discussions with BCCI officials about his decision for the past month.

For Kohli, it hadn’t been a particularly prolific spell in Test cricket. When he struck an unbeaten 100 in the Perth Test in November 2024, it marked his first Test century since July 2023, (against West Indies in Port of Spain). Once boasting a peak average of 55.10—achieved after his career-best 254* against South Africa in Pune in 2019—Kohli had averaged just 32.56 over the preceding 24 months, reflecting a challenging period in the format.

Nevertheless, it's understood that the team management and selectors valued his experience for the upcoming England tour, where India will be playing under a new captain. Shubman Gill is the front-runner to succeed Rohit Sharma, who announced his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week.

Apart from Rohit, Ravichandran Ashwin also announced his retirement from international cricket late last year. With Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav currently out of contention, and Mohammed Shami’s form under scrutiny following a long injury layoff, only KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah remain as active links to that era of Indian Test cricket. It was a period marked by significant achievements, including two successive appearances in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals, the first of which came under Virat Kohli's leadership.

Virat and Rohit were both included in the highest category (A+) of the latest BCCI central contracts, a tier typically reserved for players who represent India in all three international formats. However, following India's World Cup triumph last year, both players announced their retirement from T20 internationals. Going forward, they will be available only for ODI cricket.

BCCI President Roger Binny praised Virat Kohli for his exceptional qualities both as a cricketer and a leader.

"Virat Kohli's name will be remembered alongside the finest ever to have graced Test cricket," Binny said in a statement. "What set him apart was not just his hunger for runs, but his commitment to excellence in the toughest format of the game. His leadership marked a shift in how India competed overseas -- with aggression, belief, and a refusal to settle for second best. He inspired a generation to take pride in the whites, and his impact on Indian cricket will be felt for decades to come."

Kohli made his Test debut during India’s tour of the West Indies in mid-2011. After a modest start in Kingston, where he scored 4 and 15, he managed only 76 runs across five innings on that tour. However, later that year, he began to show signs of his potential against the same opposition at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where he scored a composed 52 and followed it up with 63.

The following tour to Australia proved to be a challenging one for both Kohli and the Indian team, as they suffered a 4-0 whitewash. Kohli initially struggled with the conditions and pace-friendly pitches, but he ended the series on a high note by scoring his maiden Test century in the final match at Adelaide, offering a glimpse of the grit and determination that would come to define his career.

Kohli’s breakthrough Test series came in Australia in 2014-15, where he scored 692 runs at an average of 86.50, including centuries in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. With MS Dhoni missing the first Test due to injury, Kohli captained in Adelaide. Dhoni returned to lead in Brisbane and Melbourne but retired from Test cricket after the third Test, handing Kohli full-time captaincy.

India entered a golden era under Virat Kohli's Test captaincy, winning 40 out of the 68 matches he led — losing just 17. These 40 victories made Kohli the most successful Test captain in India's history, surpassing M.S. Dhoni (27 wins in 60 matches) and Sourav Ganguly (21 in 49). At the time of his retirement from captaincy, Kohli ranked fourth on the all-time list of most Test wins as captain, behind only Graeme Smith (53 wins in 109 matches), Ricky Ponting (48 in 77), and Steve Waugh (41 in 57).

The 2018 tour of England was another defining moment in his career. He emerged as the top run-scorer across both teams in the five-Test series, scoring 583 runs at an impressive average of 59.30, including two centuries. What made this achievement even more remarkable was the stark contrast to his previous tour in 2014, when he had managed just 134 runs in ten innings. This incredible turnaround made his 2018 performance even more special. Additionally, 2018 was his best year in terms of total runs, as he accumulated 1,322 runs across all formats, solidifying his place as one of the game’s best.

During his peak period, Kohli averaged 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, 55.08 in 2018, and 68.00 in 2019. Between 2016 and 2018, Kohli scored 3,596 runs in 35 Tests, maintaining an impressive average of 66.59. This period saw him score 14 centuries and 8 fifties from 58 innings.

Cover Credits - BCCI Official