One of India’s biggest names in cricket, Virat Kohli, has officially retired from Test matches.
He made the announcement just before India’s upcoming tour of England, meaning he won’t be part of that five-match series in June.
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It’s the end of a long chapter that began in 2011. Kohli, now 36, played 123 Tests and left behind a record very few can match. He also shared a message online where he reflected on his journey and said he’s walking away with a smile.
How did Virat Kohli announce Test retirement?
Kohli shared his thoughts through an Instagram post. He wrote about how much Test cricket meant to him and how it helped shape his life. It’s been a 14-year ride in the whites for him. In his words, it tested him and taught him things no other format could.
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He ended his post with the line “#269, signing off”. It was simple, emotional and gave fans a moment to take in the news.
How good was Virat Kohli in Test cricket?
Kohli’s stats speak for themselves. Over his Test career, he made 9230 runs in 210 innings, putting him behind only Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar among Indian batters. His average was 46.85, and he hit 27 centuries along the way.
MORE: Where does Kohli rank among the Fab Four in Tests?
Between 2010 and 2019, no Indian batter came close to his impact in Tests. He was even the third-highest run-scorer worldwide during that time.
But after 2020, things didn’t go his way. He scored 2028 runs in 68 innings with a drop in form and fewer centuries. His average since then was only around 30, far from what fans were used to seeing.
What about Virat Kohli's record as Test captain?
Kohli didn’t just shine as a batter, he led from the front too. He took over the captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2014 and became India’s most successful Test skipper. Under his leadership, India won 40 Tests out of 68, a record for the country.
Only three captains worldwide have won more- Smith, Ponting, and Waugh. Kohli also scored heavily while leading the team, collecting over 5800 runs as captain, with 20 centuries during that time.