India’s batter Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket with just a little over a month to go before the England tour.
Kohli, 36, made the decision days after fellow Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma bid adieu to the format.
“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,” Kohli announced on social media on Monday.
“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,” he wrote.
Signing off with his Test cap number “#269”, Kohli concluded: “I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”
The former India captain made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and quickly grew into a cornerstone of India’s batting lineup. Over the years, he earned acclaim not just for his consistency and flair with the bat, but also for his leadership that helped elevate India to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
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Kohli’s tenure as captain saw India claim memorable series wins both at home and abroad, including the historic back-to-back Test series triumphs in Australia — a feat no other Asian team had previously achieved.
