Veteran Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket, just ahead of India’s scheduled five-match tour of England in June. The unexpected decision marks the end of a remarkable red-ball career that lasted 14 years and featured numerous milestones and accolades.
Kohli made the announcement on Monday through his Instagram handle, sharing an emotional message that 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. He concluded the post with a simple but poignant sign-off: “#269, signing off.”
The 36-year-old cricketer from Delhi debuted in Test cricket on June 20, 2011, against the West Indies in Kingston. Since then, he has gone on to become one of the most celebrated Indian batters in the modern era, widely regarded for his consistency and intensity in the game. Over the course of 123 Test matches, Kohli accumulated 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, placing him fourth on the list of highest Test run-scorers for India. He trails only behind cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122).
During the decade from 2010 to 2019, Kohli stood out as India’s most prolific Test batter. His record during that period was exceptional—he scored 7,202 runs at an impressive average of 54.97, including 27 centuries, the most by any batter during that time frame. This era also marked Kohli’s rise to global prominence as a dominant force in world cricket.
However, Kohli’s performance dipped significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020 onwards, he struggled to maintain his usual form, scoring only 2,028 runs across 68 innings. He managed just three centuries and nine fifties during this time, and his average plummeted to 30.72. Among the 24 Test batters who have scored at least 2,000 runs since 2020, Kohli holds the lowest average, a stark contrast to his earlier dominance.
Despite this late-career slump, Kohli’s overall contributions to Indian Test cricket remain substantial. In addition to his achievements as a batter, Kohli was also an extremely successful Test captain. After taking over the role from MS Dhoni in 2014, he led India for eight years and achieved a record 40 wins in 68 Test matches. This record makes him the most successful captain in India’s Test history. On the global stage, only Graeme Smith of South Africa (53 wins), Australia’s Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41) have led their sides to more Test victories.
As a captain, Kohli continued to shine with the bat. He scored 5,864 runs in 113 innings while leading the team—an achievement that places him fourth on the all-time list of most runs scored by a Test captain. His 20 centuries as a captain are second only to Graeme Smith’s 25, reinforcing Kohli’s reputation as a player who thrived under responsibility.
In 2024, Kohli began the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with promise, scoring a century against Australia in the opening Test in Perth. However, the series quickly turned difficult for him. He finished the tour with just 193 runs, as his vulnerability to deliveries outside the off stump became increasingly evident. In eight innings, Kohli was dismissed seven times to balls pitched in that channel, leading to repeated caught-behind dismissals.
Reflecting on the mental pressures he faced during the Australian tour, Kohli had spoken candidly at a recent event. “Once you start taking on the energy and the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more… And then you start thinking about things, like ‘I’ve got two or three days left on this tour, I need to make an impact now’. And you start getting more desperate. That’s something I’ve surely experienced in Australia as well,” he said.
He further elaborated on the emotional toll of the series and how it impacted his mindset. “Because I got a good score in the first Test. I thought, ‘right, let’s go’.There’s going to be another big series for me. It doesn’t turn out that way. For me, it’sjust about the acceptance of ‘okay fine, this is what happened. I’m going to be honest with myself. Where do I want to go? What are my energy levels like’,” he had remarked.
Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket at this point in time appears to be influenced by a combination of form, fatigue, and self-reflection. The psychological burden of not meeting his own high standards, particularly in a format that demands sustained mental resilience, may have played a key role in his choice to step away.
While the timing of his announcement—just weeks before India’s next Test assignment in England—might seem abrupt, Kohli’s legacy in red-ball cricket is firmly intact. From his aggressive batting style and impeccable cover drives to his passionate leadership on the field, Kohli has left a lasting impression on Indian cricket.
As India prepares for the future without one of its most iconic Test players, fans and fellow cricketers alike are expected to pay tribute to a career that combined talent, determination, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Kohli’s influence on the current generation of Indian players, many of whom flourished under his leadership, is likely to remain for years to come.
With the curtains drawn on his Test career, Kohli now shifts his focus to the shorter formats of the game, where he continues to be a vital figure. The cricketing world will watch closely to see what the next chapter holds for one of the modern greats of the sport. But in the realm of Test cricket, Virat Kohli has well and truly signed off—leaving behind a record that will be remembered with admiration and respect.