Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket. His decision comes shortly after Rohit Sharma made the same move.
India is now without two modern legends in the red-ball format. Kohli exits just a month before a major five-match series in England.
Kohli Announces End of an Era
Virat Kohli announced on Instagram. The 36-year-old expressed deep gratitude for his journey in Test cricket. He first played the format in 2011.
“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,” Kohli said on Instagram.
He added: “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.”
Advance Warning to BCCI
Kohli informed the BCCI of his plans well before the public knew. As per Sky Sports, he is said to have communicated this to chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April. The aim was to retire before the next World Test Championship cycle starts in June 2025.
He had already told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he wished to retire from Test cricket ahead of this summer’s series in England.
Sky Sports reports the 36-year-old told chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April of his desire to step away before the start of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle in June.
This marks a carefully timed departure. India must now prepare for their next red-ball chapter without two of their most experienced players.
A Career That Rewrote History
Kohli played 123 Tests and scored 9,230 runs. He is India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format. His career includes 30 centuries, many of them match-defining.
Kohli, the most followed Asian and cricketer on Instagram with more than 271 million followers, made 30 Test tons and was often held up as one of the four greatest batters of the modern age alongside England’s Joe Root, Australia’s Steve Smith and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.
He becomes the first of the ‘Fab Four’ to bow out of Tests, with his decision coming hot on the heels of India captain Rohit Sharma, who succeeded Kohli as skipper in 2022, standing down and retiring last week.
His influence on the format went far beyond statistics. Kohli was known for his fierce competitiveness and strong leadership. He helped make Test cricket relevant in a T20-dominated era.
Still Going in Limited-Overs Cricket
Kohli stepped away from T20 Internationals after India won the World Cup in June. However, he remains active in One-Day Internationals. He holds the record for most centuries in the format with 51.
After India’s T20 World Cup triumph last June, Kohli retired from the format, but he is still expected to continue in ODIS, where he has amassed a record-breaking 51 centuries.
Kohli’s continued presence in white-ball cricket will be a boost for India. It also benefits commercial interests, including online sports betting platforms.
Karthik Tips His Cap
Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik described Kohli’s retirement as a major loss. Speaking to Sky Sports News, he underlined the void Kohli leaves behind.
“It’s massive in the context of not just Indian cricket but Test cricket. We all know the most-watched format is definitely the T20S,” Karthik said.
“In many ways, Virat Kohli was the frontrunner of how Test cricket needs to be played and how much it needs to be valued, and we’re losing someone at a very important point in the whole cricketing eco-system because we’re in a conundrum where Test cricket stands – and Kohli was one of the most important pivots in the last decade or so.
“He played Test cricket in a certain way and made people enjoy the game. Losing someone like him from an Indian Test team point of view is very hard, but most importantly, in the broader context of cricket, it’s a massive loss not seeing him play anywhere in whites.”
Karthik was also asked if anyone could replace Kohli. His answer was clear and honest.
“I don’t see anyone coming close to replacing him because what he’s achieved in the last decade and a half is very hard to do right now, and with the way the game is moving I feel a lot of people are giving importance to T20 cricket, but he was phenomenal because he liked Test cricket the most and he felt that was the most valued format.
“The amount of work he put into that was so much, and that’s how the results came through.”
Tendulkar Pays Tribute
Meanwhile, one of the greatest batsmen ever – Sachin Tendulkar – paid tribute on X.
“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,” former India batsman Tendulkar said.
“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.”
India Faces a Crucial Transition
Kohli’s and Sharma’s retirements mark a new phase for Indian cricket. Leadership, consistency, and big-match experience will now be in short supply. New heroes must step up in the England series and beyond.
With the new World Test Championship cycle on the horizon, the pressure is on. India must not only rebuild but also remain competitive on foreign soil. Replacing Kohli’s runs, drive, and on-field charisma will not be easy.
While fans will miss him in whites, Kohli’s legacy in Test cricket is secure. His passion helped revive global interest in the format. His retirement leaves a void that no one may truly fill.
