Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, marking the end of a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game. His decision comes shortly after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, signaling a significant transition period for Indian cricket.Reuters+3news+3The Times+3Reuters+1news+1
🏏 Career Highlights
- Matches Played: 123 Tests
- Runs Scored: 9,230
- Batting Average: 46.85
- Centuries/Half-Centuries: 30/31
- Double Centuries: 7 (most by an Indian)
- Highest Score: 254*
- Catches: 121Devdiscourse+9Reuters+9The Guardian+9Yahoo Sports+9ESPN Cricinfo+9The Guardian+9
Kohli ranks fourth among Indian Test run-scorers, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
🧢 Leadership Legacy
Serving as India’s Test captain from 2014 to 2022, Kohli led the team in 68 matches, securing 40 victories—the most by any Indian captain. His tenure was marked by a transformative approach, emphasizing aggressive fast bowling and peak fitness, which propelled India to the top of the Test rankings and included historic series wins in Australia.
🇮🇳 Impact Against Australia
Kohli’s performances against Australia were particularly noteworthy. He amassed 2,232 runs, including nine centuries, and played a pivotal role in India’s two Test series victories on Australian soil.
📉 Recent Form and Decision
In recent years, Kohli experienced a dip in form, registering only three centuries in his last 39 Tests. Despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) urging him to continue through the upcoming England series, Kohli chose to retire on his own terms, expressing that he had “given everything I had” to Test cricket.
VK RETIRMENT
