Virat Kohli has officially called time on his Test career, bringing down the curtain on a legendary chapter in Indian cricket. The former India skipper announced his retirement on Monday (May 12), ending a 14-year journey in whites that saw him score 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85 — including 30 centuries.
Kohli leaves as India's most successful Test captain, but his impact goes far beyond the numbers. At a time when Test cricket has often had to fight for attention amid the rise of T20s and franchise leagues, Kohli was its loudest, proudest voice — wearing the format's challenges like a badge of honour.
In an emotional Instagram post, Kohli wrote:
"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.
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."
Kohli’s decision comes at a time of sweeping change in Indian cricket. His exit follows those of Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, signalling the end of an era that has echoes of the 2012-2013 transition, when legends like Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, and Sehwag bowed out.
According to reports, the BCCI was hopeful Kohli might play on a bit longer, and discussions were held with key figures in the cricketing set-up. But in the end, the choice—like much of his career—was Kohli's alone.
Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies at Sabina Park. His early days were tough, but a breakthrough hundred in Adelaide in 2012 set the tone for what was to come. That venue would go on to define key moments in his career, especially the 2014 tour, where he scored twin centuries in his first outing as stand-in captain. By the Sydney Test later that tour, the captaincy was officially his, following MS Dhoni’s surprise retirement.
Over the years, Kohli built a remarkable portfolio of innings — from battling a star-studded South African attack for scores of 119 and 96 in 2013, to bossing Australia with centuries in Melbourne and Sydney. He brought flair and fire to the field, whether scoring 235 against England in Mumbai in 2016, or grinding out a priceless 104* in swinging conditions against Sri Lanka in Kolkata in 2017.
One of his most celebrated achievements came in 2018, when he returned to England under pressure and produced masterclasses with the bat, notably a match-winning 149 in Birmingham and a crisp 103 in Nottingham. Later that year, he was back in Australia, facing Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood on a green Perth deck — and he didn't flinch. Under his leadership, India would go on to win their first-ever Test series Down Under.
Kohli’s first double century came in 2016 against the West Indies, and he quickly added six more, the most by any Indian batter. However, runs became harder to come by toward the back end of his career. A pink-ball ton at Eden Gardens in 2019 was followed by a long drought — finally broken against Australia in Ahmedabad in 2023.
Fittingly, his last Test came at the SCG in January 2025 — a venue that has been central to many chapters of his Test journey.
As Kohli signs off from the longest format, Indian cricket finds itself at a crossroads. A generation of modern greats has stepped aside, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire the next wave. For now, fans and teammates alike will reflect on Kohli’s incredible contribution — not just in numbers, but in passion, intensity, and love for the game's toughest format.
