Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket, capping off a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game. The announcement comes just days after Rohit Sharma also declared his retirement from Tests, signaling a significant generational shift in Indian cricket.
Kohli, 36, debuted in 2011 and played 123 Tests for India. He amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. Despite stepping away from the five-day game, Kohli is expected to remain available for one-day internationals.
🔗 Full stats and profile on Virat Kohli’s Test career
“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,” Kohli shared on Instagram.
“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.”
A legacy of leadership and consistency
Kohli’s final Test was part of a 3-1 series defeat against Australia in January 2025, ending India’s decade-long dominance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Yet his legacy as a captain remains unmatched in Indian cricket history.
From 2014 to 2022, Kohli led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 matches — the most by any Indian Test captain. Only Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41) have more wins as Test captains globally.
Under his leadership, India reached two World Test Championship finals — losing to New Zealand in 2021 and Australia in 2023. His tenure was defined by a fiery spirit, intense fitness culture, and a drive to win overseas.
A heartfelt goodbye
Kohli expressed gratitude to teammates, fans, and the sport itself. “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,” he said. “I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”
Kohli had earlier retired from T20 Internationals in 2024, shortly after India won their second T20 World Cup in the West Indies.
India’s next Test assignment will be a five-match series in England starting June 20, and for the first time in over a decade, it will be without Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in the squad.
