Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket
Indian batter Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable career in the longest format of the game. The 36-year-old made the announcement just days after captain Rohit Sharma revealed his own retirement from Test cricket.
According to Sky Sports, Kohli took to Instagram to share his thoughts on retiring from Test cricket, saying: "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."
Kohli reflected on his time playing in whites, saying: "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." He added: "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."
The Indian batter expressed his gratitude to the game, his teammates, and the fans, saying: "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 concluded: "I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile."
Sky Sports reports that Kohli scored 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, placing him fourth in India’s all-time list of Test run-scorers. He had previously informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his desire to retire from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming series in England.
It is understood that Kohli told chief selector Ajit Agarkar in April of his decision to step away from Test cricket before the start of the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle in June. Sky Sports has provided a breakdown of Kohli’s impressive Test statistics, including:
- Matches: 123
- Runs: 9,230
- Hundreds: 30
- Fifties: 31
- Average: 46.85
- Highest score: 254no (vs South Africa, 2019)
The news of Kohli’s retirement comes ahead of India’s five-match Test series against England, which begins on June 20 at Headingley. The series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with all games starting at 11am UK and Ireland time. The full schedule for the series is as follows:
- First Test: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – Headingley
- Second Test: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – Edgbaston
- Third Test: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’s
- Fourth Test: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Emirates Old Trafford
- Fifth Test: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval
As reported by Sky Sports, Kohli’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, and fans will be eager to see how the team performs in the upcoming series against England.
