Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket after a glorious 14-year run. With 123 Tests, 9230 runs, and 30 centuries to his name, Kohli leaves behind an unmatched legacy.
The 36-year-old wrote that Test cricket has taught him valuable life lessons while professing his love for the format he so vocally championed throughout his career.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,” Kohli wrote. “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.”
Kohli, arguably, will be the greatest India Test batter to have not touched the milestone of 10,000 runs, falling short by 770 runs. However, the former India captain has no regrets.
“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,” he wrote.
