India's batting stalwart Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12. The 36-year-old shared a statement on his social media platforms.
Virat Kohli’s 14-year Test Cricket career comes to an end today, as he took to social media to announce his retirement, leaving fans in disagreement. In his 14 years of Test cricket career, he played 124 tests in which he captained for 68 and in total he scored 9230 runs with an average of 46.85.
Kohli shared that it has been 14 years since he first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket and that he never expected the journey to unfold as it did. He talked about how this experience has challenged him, helped him grow, and taught him important lessons that he will remember for life. He mentioned that there’s a special connection to playing in whites, with quiet hard work, long days, and little moments that often go unnoticed but mean a lot.
As he gets ready to leave this format, Kohli admitted that it’s a tough choice, but it feels right. He feels he has given his all to the game, and in return, it has given him more than he ever imagined. With a heart full of thanks, he expressed his appreciation for the sport, his teammates, and everyone who has supported him along the way. He finished by saying he will always look back on his Test career with a smile.
Kohli had let the BCCI know about his decision to retire from Test cricket before the important five-match series in England starting on June 20, where he was expected to be part of the team. It was reported that he had been discussing this with BCCI officials for about a month.
Recently, Kohli hadn't been performing particularly well in Tests. His last century came when he scored 100 not out in the Perth Test in November 2024. This was his first Test century since July 2023, when he scored against the West Indies in Port of Spain. His batting average, which peaked at 55.10 after he scored a career-best 254 not out against South Africa in Pune in 2019, had dropped to 32.56 over the last 24 months.
Despite this, the team management and selectors still wanted his experience for the England tour. India will be playing under a new captain there, with Shubman Gill being the favourite to take over from Rohit Sharma after his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week.
Test career stats off Virat Kohli:
Matches: 123
Runs scored: 9230
Highest: 254 not out vs South Africa, 2019
Average: 46.85
100s: 30
50s: 31