Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket has officially closed one of the most celebrated chapters in Indian cricket.
Just a few weeks before India’s five-match Test series in England, Kohli took to Instagram to announce that he is stepping away from the longest format.
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At 36, the former India captain walks away after 123 Tests. Kohli wrote in his post that Test cricket had shaped his life and taught him lessons no other format could.
It was a heartfelt message that underlined the pride he took in wearing the whites for India over the past 14 years. Now that his red-ball journey has ended, the big question is: where does Virat Kohli stand among the famed "Fab Four" of modern Test batting?
Check: Virat Kohli Test retirement: How cricket legends and India teammates reacted
Where will Virat Kohli rank among the Fab Four in Test cricket?
Kohli finishes with 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85 and will therefore not complete the 10,000-run landmark achieved by Joe Root and Steve Smith.
He struck 30 centuries during his career. But when stacked up against the Fab four -- Smith, Root and Kane Williamson -- Kohli's numbers fall just a touch short.
| Rank | Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Root | 152 | 12,972 | 50.87 | 36 |
| 2 | Steve Smith | 116 | 10,271 | 56.74 | 36 |
| 3 | Kane Williamson | 105 | 9,276 | 54.88 | 33 |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | 123 | 9,230 | 46.85 | 30 |
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Kohli may rank fourth by the numbers, but his influence on the game goes far beyond that. He brought passion, intensity, and a fitness revolution to Indian cricket.
He led India to memorable overseas wins and set new standards for competitiveness in Tests. So while he might not top the charts, Kohli’s legacy is secure -- built on more than just runs.