The cricketing world woke up to a shock on May 11, 2025, as Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket. Taking to Instagram, the 35-year-old penned a heartfelt note to confirm his decision, marking the end of a remarkable journey in whites that spanned 14 years.
“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,” Kohli wrote.
The former India captain’s retirement comes just days after Rohit Sharma stepped down from the longest format, signaling the close of a generational chapter in Indian cricket. Kohli’s decision was reportedly conveyed to the BCCI earlier in the week, but his public confirmation has now made it official.
Kohli’s Final Test: A Quiet Goodbye in Sydney
Virat Kohli’s last appearance in Test cricket came in January 2025 at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It wasn’t the farewell he or his fans would have hoped for. He scored 17 off 69 in the first innings and followed it up with just 6 runs off 12 balls in the second, falling to Scott Boland. India lost the match by six wickets and eventually the series as well.
His final season wasn’t his best statistically either—382 runs from 19 innings at an average of 22.47, with just one century. But numbers only tell part of the story.
Kohli retires with 123 Test matches, 9230 runs, 30 centuries, 31 fifties, and a batting average of 46.85. His intensity, fitness, and passion for the red-ball game redefined how India approached Test cricket—especially overseas.
As captain, he led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them. His tenure was marked by historic series wins in Australia, a dominant home record, and an aggressive brand of cricket that inspired a generation.
“I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for,” Kohli added in his Instagram post.
With his retirement, India not only lose a world-class batter but also one of the most passionate ambassadors of Test cricket in modern times. The challenge now falls to the likes of Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rishabh Pant to carry forward the legacy.
Kohli signed off his post with:
“#269, signing off. 🇮🇳❤️”
A simple goodbye for a man whose impact on Indian Test cricket was anything but.
