Virat Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his intention to retire from Test cricket ahead of India’s five-match series in England starting June 20, bringing an end to a 14-year red-ball career.
Indian media reports that the 36-year-old has been in talks with BCCI officials over the past month to step away from the longest format of the game.
Kohli’s formal retirement would close the chapter on a prolific Test career that began in 2011.
Despite his intention, several reports suggest that Kohli may still feature in the squad as selectors consider retaining his experience for the critical away tour under a new captain.
Rohit Sharma, who led the side in recent years, has also stepped down from Test cricket, adding to the leadership vacuum.
Kohli has played 123 Test matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 29 centuries and 30 half-centuries.
He captained India in 68 matches and led the team to the top of the ICC Test rankings, most notably during their 2021 World Test Championship final appearance.
However, his recent form has come under scrutiny.
Since scoring a century in Perth in November 2024, Kohli has averaged just 32.56 in the past two years.
Kohli’s Test tally places him among India’s all-time greats, behind only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).
He also trails Tendulkar (51), Dravid (36), and Gavaskar (34) in centuries scored but maintains a higher strike rate than all three at 54.04.
India’s upcoming Test series in England begins at Headingley in Leeds on June 20, with further matches scheduled at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval.
An official announcement regarding Kohli’s selection or retirement is expected before the squad departs for the UK.
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