Virat Kohli brings curtain down on 14-year Test cricket career

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

New Delhi, May 12: Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket, bringing the curtains down on a remarkable 14-year journey in the longest format.

The 36-year-old shared the news on Monadya through a heartfelt post on Instagram, expressing deep gratitude for the format that, in his words, “tested, shaped, and taught” him.

Kohli’s impact on Test cricket has been monumental — both as a world-class batter and an aggressive, transformative captain. In 123 Tests since his debut against the West Indies in 2011, he amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His highest score in Tests remains an unbeaten 254.

Kohli retires as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format, behind only legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

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In his emotional farewell post, Kohli described the significance of playing in whites, calling the experience “deeply personal,” filled with “quiet grind, long days, and small moments that stay with you forever.” He added, “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back more than I could’ve hoped for… I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off.”

 

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The latter part of Kohli’s red-ball career saw a dip in form. In 2024, he scored just 382 runs in 10 matches, averaging 22.47 with only a single century and one fifty. His final Test series was the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he managed 190 runs in nine innings, with a century in Perth being the standout moment.

With his retirement, Indian Test cricket bids goodbye not just to a prolific run-getter but to a player who redefined fitness standards and inspired a generation with his intensity and leadership.