Kohli Retires from Test Series with Immediate Effect, Scores 9230 Runs in 14-Year Career

Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest cricketers, has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 36-year-old broke the news just weeks before India’s tour of England. His decision followed Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the format, creating a significant shift in India’s Test setup. Kohli informed the BCCI about his choice, and the news took fans and analysts by surprise on Saturday morning.

Though Kohli had not yet reached the 10,000-run milestone, he felt it was the right time to move on. He leaves with 9230 Test runs in 113 matches, averaging 46.8. He ranks fourth among India’s top Test scorers, behind legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

An Emotional Goodbye

Kohli shared a heartfelt message on social media: “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.”

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.”

India’s Changing Line-Up

Kohli’s departure, along with Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin stepping away, leaves India short on experience for the upcoming England series. With Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara no longer part of the plans, Ravindra Jadeja is expected to be the most senior player in the squad. The team for the England tour will likely be announced next week.

Now that Kohli has retired from both T20Is and Tests, he will focus entirely on ODIs. His top goal is to help India win the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.

Most Successful Indian Test Captain

In his 14-year career, Kohli led India to many historic moments. He won 40 out of 68 Tests as captain, the most by any Indian skipper. One of the highlights was India’s first-ever series win in Australia in 2018-19. That 2-1 victory was a defining chapter under Kohli’s leadership. He also helped India become the No. 1-ranked Test team for five consecutive years and win the ICC Test mace during that time.

A Champion of Test Cricket

Kohli’s love for Test cricket was always evident. As captain, along with coach Ravi Shastri, he built a top-notch pace attack that regularly took 20 wickets, making India a strong team even on overseas tours.

Early Days and Growth

Kohli’s journey in Tests began with promise. He scored his first hundred in Adelaide and never looked back. In 2013, he scored a brilliant century in Johannesburg. However, his 2014 England tour was a low point, as he struggled against James Anderson’s swing, managing only 134 runs in five Tests.

Kohli’s Peak Years

Dominating Australia

Kohli bounced back during the 2014-15 tour of Australia. He amassed 692 runs in four Tests at an average of 86.40, including four centuries. His fierce form earned him a reputation as Australia’s biggest threat. Over his career, he scored 3320 Test runs and nine centuries against them.

2016 to 2019: The Golden Era

Between 2015 and 2019, Kohli was unstoppable. In 2016, he smashed 1215 runs at an average of 75.93 with four tons, including a career-best 235 against England. Two years later, he returned to England and conquered old demons by scoring 593 runs in five Tests. His performance won him the ICC Test Player of the Year award in 2018.

The Decline and Final Chapter

A Gradual Drop in Form

Kohli’s last Test century before his slump came in December 2019 during India’s first day-night Test against Bangladesh. After that, his form dipped sharply. For over three years, he couldn’t score a Test century. Meanwhile, he stepped down from captaincy after India’s 2022 Test loss to South Africa.

Late Comeback But Not the Same

Although Kohli later returned to scoring hundreds, his fluency wasn’t what it once was. His average fell from 55.10 in 2019 to under 47. His 76-run knock against South Africa under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy stood out as one of his last strong innings.

A Quiet End to a Loud Legacy

Kohli’s final Test came against Australia, where he managed 190 runs at an average of 23.75, with 100 of those runs in a single innings. His journey, which began with fireworks in Australia, ended more quietly. But his legacy remains unshaken.