Era over as Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket

Kohli retires from Tests having scored 9230 runs from his 123 Tests, with 30 Test centuries and 31 fifties and many other memorable innings across a superb career.

The decision comes after Rohit Sharma made a surprising announcement to call time on his career in the longest format of the game last week.

Kohli took to social media on Monday to reveal the news.

"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," the post read.

"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.

"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.

"🇮🇳❤️"

Having made his debut against the West Indies in 2011, Kohli cemented his place in the Test setup later in that year during the tour of Australia.

While other batters struggled as India failed to pick up the pace, Kohli improved each game and signed off with a brilliant 116, his first-ever Test hundred in Adelaide.

Kohli subsequently captained India in the red-ball format, securing 40 wins from his 68 Tests, making him the most successful Indian Men’s captain in Tests, in terms of wins.

He hangs up his spikes as the fourth-most successful Test captain overall, behind Graeme Smith (53 wins), Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Steve Waugh (41 wins).

Kohli’s 30 Test centuries make him the fourth-most successful India batter, behind Sachin Tendulkar (51 hundreds), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34). Kohli also made seven Test double hundreds, the most ever by an Indian.

Kohli also has the most Test hundreds by an Indian captain, with Gavaskar (11 centuries) way behind his 20 tons.

Kohli has already retired from the T20I format last year after India won the T20 World Cup.

He last featured for India in the ODI format in the Champions Trophy this year, a tournament the Men in Blue won under Rohit Sharma's leadership.