Virat Kohli, India’s batting linchpin for over a decade, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, bowing out with 9,230 runs and 30 centuries in 123 matches. The emotional decision, shared via social media, follows former skipper Rohit Sharma’s abrupt retirement from the format last week, marking a seismic shift in Indian cricket’s leadership core.
Kohli’s Test career, spanning 14 years, saw him average 49.36, with a highest score of 254* against South Africa in 2019. His 2018 tour of England, where he amassed 593 runs, remains emblematic of his mastery overseas. The 36-year-old signed off as “#269” – his Test cap number – in a heartfelt note, calling the format “deeply personal” and thanking fans for “making me feel seen”.
The twin retirements signal the end of an era defined by India’s Test dominance under Kohli and Rohit, architects of historic away series wins in Australia (2020-21) and England (2021). Kohli, who will continue in white-ball cricket, leaves a void in India’s middle order, with the team now entering a transition phase ahead of the 2025-26 World Test Championship cycle.
Fans and former players flooded social media with tributes, recalling his 2021 Lord’s century and fiery captaincy that propelled India to No. 1 in Tests. “The quiet grind, the long days… I’ve given it everything,” Kohli wrote, reflecting on a career steeped in grit. His final act? Passing the torch to Gen-Next stars Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, tasked with upholding India’s red-ball legacy.