It’s all over for Virat Kohli in whites.
Monday morning brought an emotional twist for Kohli fans as legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, putting an end to speculation about his future in the longest format of the game. He will now continue playing only in ODIs. The 36-year-old was last seen in Test cricket during India’s tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India lost the five-match series 1–3.
Kohli had scored a century in the first match of the series — the Perth Test — but struggled in the subsequent games. His retirement comes at a time when selectors were set to pick the squad for the upcoming five-Test series in England next month. Notably, Kohli had already retired from T20Is earlier.
Virat Kohli made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies in Kingston, where he scored 4 runs in the first innings and 15 in the second. His final Test match was against Australia in Sydney, played in January 2025, where he scored 17 and 6 runs in the two innings, respectively.
King Kohli featured in 123 Test matches, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. He notched up 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the format.
Kohli announced his retirement through an Instagram post. He wrote:
“It’s been 14 years since I wore the India Test jersey for the first time. Honestly, I never thought this format would take me on such a journey. It tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons that I will carry for life. Playing in whites is a deeply personal experience — silent efforts, long days, small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.”
He continued:
“Walking away from this format is not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given everything to Test cricket, and it’s given me more than I could have ever imagined. I leave with immense gratitude — for the game, for the players I shared the field with, and for everyone who supported me on this journey. I will always look back on my Test career with a smile.”
Virat Kohli is the most successful captain in India’s Test cricket history. He led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them. When he took over, the team was ranked 7th in the world. Under his leadership, and with the hard work of his teammates, India rose to the number one spot in the Test rankings.
Tests: 123 matches, 210 innings, 9,230 runs, 46.85 average, 30 centuries, 31 fifties
ODIs: 302 matches, 290 innings, 14,181 runs, 57.88 average, 51 centuries, 74 fifties
T20Is: 125 matches, 117 innings, 4,188 runs, 48.69 average, 1 century, 38 fifties