Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, May 12, bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game. The 36-year-old made the announcement ahead of India’s five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. He shared the news through a statement on his Instagram account.
“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.
“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.”
“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,” Kohli wrote.
“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,” Kohli added.
While Virat Kohli finishes without reaching the milestone of 10,000 runs, he will be remembered as the greatest captain to have led India in whites. The Delhi boy, who took over from MS Dhoni midway through a Test series in Australia, led India in 68 Tests and won 40 of them. Under Kohli, India turned into a menacing winning machine, dominating teams across conditions. While India did not lose a single home series during his tenure as captain between 2014 and 2022, India won their first-ever Test series in Australia under his captaincy in 2018-19.
