After 14 years and 123 Test matches, Indian cricket bids farewell to an icon as Virat Kohli formally announces his retirement from the longest format.
Rumors of Kohli’s impending exit first surfaced last week amid reports that the BCCI was attempting to persuade the former captain to continue. Today, however, Kohli took to Instagram to confirm that he will immediately step away from red-ball cricket.
“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.”
“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 closes his Test career with 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries, cementing his status as India’s most successful Test captain. Over 68 matches at the helm, his side won 40 games, and under his leadership, India emerged as a dominant force in SENA nations for the first time. Notably, in 2018, Kohli guided India to its maiden Test series victory in Australia.
Between 2015 and 2021, India was the sport’s most formidable home team, claiming 24 wins and suffering just two defeats, triumphing in every bilateral series played on home soil.
