Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket, ending his 14-year career in the longest format of the game.
Kohli, who retired from T20Is following India's 2024 T20 World Cup win, made the announcement via Instagram post.
“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," he wrote on Instagram.
“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,” the star batter wrote.
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.
Globally, Kohli ranks fourth on the list of Test captains with the most wins. He follows South Africa’s Graeme Smith (53 wins in 109 matches), Australia’s Ricky Ponting (48 wins in 77 matches), and Steve Waugh of Australia (41 wins in 57 matches).
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