By Robert 
Legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on a glittering red-ball career that spanned over 14 years. Kohli, who made his debut in 2011, finishes with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an impressive average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.
Kohli’s announcement came via an emotional Instagram post on Monday, May 12, where he reflected on his journey in the longest format of the game.
“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,” he wrote.
“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. #269, signing off.”
A Transformational Leader and Test Cricket’s Modern Pillar
Kohli leaves the game not just as one of India’s finest Test batters, but also its most successful Test captain, having led a transformation in team culture and performance, particularly overseas. His leadership and passion reinvigorated India’s approach to red-ball cricket, inspiring a generation to take pride in the format amid the rise of T20 leagues and a three-format calendar.
Kohli’s retirement follows closely on the heels of fellow stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, marking a significant generational shift not seen since the departures of Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag, and Tendulkar.
According to earlier reports, the BCCI had hoped to persuade Kohli to continue a little longer, with at least one prominent figure in Indian cricket reportedly in discussions with him. However, the decision appears to have been entirely Kohli’s.
The Rise of a Modern Great
Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies at Sabina Park. He had a rocky start but found his breakthrough moment in 2012 with a century (116) at Adelaide, a venue that would become deeply personal for him. On India’s 2014 tour of Australia, Kohli returned to Adelaide to score twin hundreds, marking the start of his journey as Test captain following MS Dhoni’s retirement later that series.
His captaincy tenure was marked by a fierce intensity and an unmatched desire to win overseas. Kohli’s gritty knocks in South Africa (2013–14), a stellar run in Australia (2014–15), and a redemptive performance in England (2018) where he scored 593 runs, remain defining moments of his career.
Kohli’s memorable performances include:
- 235 vs England in Mumbai (2016)
- 153 vs South Africa in Centurion (2018)
- 149 & 51 vs England in Birmingham (2018)
- 123 vs Australia in Perth (2018)
- A career-best seven double centuries, the most by an Indian.
The Final Chapter
Despite a noticeable dip in form in the later years, including a long gap between centuries from 2019 to 2023, Kohli continued to grind it out with the same intensity. His last hundred came against Australia in Ahmedabad (2023), breaking a long drought.
His final appearance in whites came at the SCG in January 2025, fittingly in a country where he enjoyed some of his most iconic moments, both as player and captain.
A Grateful Goodbye
Virat Kohli’s legacy in Test cricket is cemented as one of India’s greatest modern-day cricketers—an intense competitor, a fierce leader, and a relentless performer. His retirement marks the end of an era in Indian cricket, but his contributions to the red-ball game will be remembered for generations.