Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday through an Instagram post, stepping away from the format with immediate effect. His decision comes just ahead of India’s five-match Test series against England in June and follows Rohit Sharma’s recent exit from the format as well.

Kohli retires as one of India’s most accomplished Test cricketers. With 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85, he ranks fourth among Indian Test run-scorers—behind only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122).

 

 

 

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 In his farewell statement, Kohli spoke about how Test cricket has shaped him over the past 14 years. He described the format as deeply personal, highlighting the long hours and quiet struggles that define the game. “I’ve given it everything, and it’s given me so much more,” he wrote, expressing heartfelt thanks to the game, his teammates, and fans.

Signing off with his Test cap number #269, Kohli leaves behind a legacy of grit and excellence. As Sandeep Dwivedi wrote in The Indian Express, quitting before the England series seems a wise move — a reminder that even the fittest and most driven eventually step away.