India’s star batter Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game just days after captain Rohit Sharma stepped away as well.
Kohli, 36, made his Test debut in 2011 and went on to play 123 matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. He confirmed his decision via an Instagram post on Monday, stating, “It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”
He reflected on the emotional bond he shares with Test cricket, describing it as “something deeply personal… the quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.”
Although his final appearance came during India’s 3-1 series defeat to Australia earlier this year—resulting in the loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy—Kohli’s Test legacy is defined by his leadership between 2014 and 2022.
Under his captaincy, India won 40 out of 68 Tests, making him the most successful Indian Test skipper and placing him fourth overall in Test wins as captain, behind Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh.
Kohli also led India to the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021 and was part of the team that reached the final again in 2023.
He had previously retired from T20 Internationals after India’s World Cup triumph in 2024 but is expected to remain available for ODIs.
“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,” Kohli wrote. “I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”
India’s next Test assignment begins with a five-match series in England starting June 20.
