Ahead of a five-match Test series against England, Virat Kohli startled the cricket community by declaring his retirement from Test cricket. The Indian squad suffered a double blow when Kohli announced his retirement a few days after Rohit Sharma made his decision. The team will lose the two players' extensive expertise on the England tour, which will also mark the beginning of their new World Test Championship cycle.
In an Instagram post, Kohli talked about his 14 years of experience playing Test cricket, which is the format he loves the most. Earlier this year, when India was on tour in Australia, the batting master led the team on the final day of the match in Sydney following the injury to Jasprit Bumrah.
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At an average of 46.85, Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 games to end his remarkable career. With a top score of 254 not out, he hit 30 hundreds and 31 fifties. In red-ball cricket, he also holds the record for the most double hundreds by an Indian, with seven.
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After Kohli made the major announcement on social media, the cricket community went into a frenzy.
In a message to Kohli, Team India's head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed how much he would miss him.
“A man with lion’s passion! Will miss u cheeks….” Gambhir wrote on X.
India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Kohli on a very special Test career. Tendulkar posted: “As you retire from Tests, I'm reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heartwarming and has stayed with me ever since. While I may not have a thread to offer in return, please know that you carry my deepest admiration and very best wishes. Your true legacy, Virat, lies in inspiring countless young cricketers to pick up the sport. What an incredible Test career you have had! You have given Indian cricket so much more than just runs – you have given it a new generation of passionate fans and players. Congratulations on a very special Test career.”
The Indian cricket board (BCCI), in a series of posts, highlighted Kohli’s career achievements in Test cricket:
A message for Kohli was posted on X by his good friend and former RCB teammate AB de Villiers, who wrote, “Congrats to my biscotti @imVkohli on an epic Test career! Your determination & skill have always inspired me. True legend! #ViratKohli.”
A touching message for the two cricketing titans was also shared by young India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is anticipated to carry on his and Rohit Sharma's legacy.
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“Pajji , I grew up watching you and Rohit bhai play, and from the moment seeing both of you in that Indian jersey I dreamed of one day doing the same. Both of you have been a source of inspiration not just for me, but for an entire generation who fell in love with cricket because of the passion and intensity you brought to the game. The impact you’ve had on Test cricket, and on cricket in India as a whole, is immeasurable. To have had the chance to share the pitch with you — someone I looked up to for so many years — was more than just a privilege; it was a moment I’ll carry with me forever,” Jaiswal wrote on Instagram.
Harbhajan Singh, a seasoned spinner for India, was taken aback by his decision to retire from Test cricket.
“Why Retired ? @imVkohli,” he wrote on X.
Sanjay Manjrekar, a former cricket player for India, too praised Kohli for his dedication to the game's oldest format.
“Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli,” he wrote.
The announcement of Kohli's retirement has left former England captain Kevin Pietersen speechless. Pietersen, who is currently the coach of the Delhi Capitals, expressed his disapproval of Virat's decision to leave Test cricket by sharing a number of horrified emojis on social media.
Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina posted: “Your passion & leadership in Test cricket have inspired millions, brother! Love and respect bro @imVkohli
Sad to see you step away, but your legacy will live on. #Legend #thankyouvirat”
Former Indian left-arm bowler Irfan Pathan posted: “Congratulations on a phenomenal Test career, Virat Kohli. As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets. You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard. A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket. #ThankYouVirat”
During the 2018 and 2019 tour, the 36-year-old guided India to unprecedented success in red-ball cricket and helped them rule in foreign settings, including their first-ever series victory on Australian territory. India had some historic Test victories in South Africa and England under his captaincy. He was the most successful Test captain in Indian cricket history when he gave up the position in 2022. With a winning percentage of 58.82, India won 40 of the 68 Test matches that Kohli led.
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