India’s Virat Kohli steps down from Test cricket after 14 glorious years
India to tour England without Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in red-ball squad
DUBAI: Virat Kohli, India’s most successful Test captain, has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket.
The 35-year-old broke the news through a heartfelt note shared on his social media on Monday morning, signalling the end of a red-ball journey that began in 2011 and spanned 123 matches, yielding 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.
“It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,” Kohli wrote. “As I step away from this format, it's not easy – but it feels right... I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude.”
The announcement arrives days before India's five-Test series in England, set to begin on June 20. Kohli, who had already informed the BCCI of his intentions weeks prior, had been in discussions with the board over the past month.
Virat Kohli’s Test legacy
Kohli made his Test debut on India’s tour of the West Indies in 2011. While he had a modest start – scoring just 76 runs in five innings – he showed early promise at home against the same opposition, registering scores of 52 and 63 in Mumbai. His real emergence came during the ill-fated 2011-12 tour of Australia, culminating in his maiden Test century at Adelaide.
The 2014-15 series in Australia marked a turning point in Kohli’s career. With MS Dhoni missing the opener due to injury, Kohli was thrust into the captaincy and responded with twin centuries in Adelaide. When Dhoni retired mid-series, Kohli was handed the full-time role. He never looked back.
Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli dominated world cricket with his exceptional form. He averaged 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, 55.08 in 2018, and 68.00 in 2019. His best year came in 2018, when he amassed 1322 runs, including standout performances in England where he scored 583 runs at an average of 59.30.
Kohli’s captaincy numbers remain unmatched in Indian Test history. He led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 – a record for an Indian skipper. His win tally puts him fourth globally behind Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41). Kohli's leadership redefined the ethos of Indian cricket, bringing in a new culture of fitness, aggression, and belief.
Transition phase begins
Despite his historic achievements, Kohli’s recent Test form had shown a downward curve. After scoring his career-best 254* in Pune in 2019, his average dropped, managing just 32.56 over the past 24 months. His century in Perth in November 2024 was his first in more than a year.
Nevertheless, Kohli's presence was still valued. The selectors and team management had reportedly wanted him in the England squad, with his experience deemed vital during a transitional phase. India will now head into the English summer under new leadership, with Shubman Gill emerging as the likely candidate to take over the Test captaincy.
Kohli’s departure comes shortly after another Indian cricketing giant, Rohit Sharma, announced his own retirement from the longest format. Rohit, who had captained the Test side post-Kohli’s tenure, confirmed his decision earlier this week.
With both senior pros stepping away, India’s Test setup now looks to the younger core of KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, and possibly Rishabh Pant to carry the legacy forward.
The changes come at a time when the Indian team is already undergoing a generational shift. R Ashwin retired from international cricket in late 2024, and with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane out of favour, India’s red-ball team has entered a rebuilding phase.
Kohli and Rohit were among the select few in the BCCI’s A+ contract category, which typically includes players active across formats. However, both had stepped down from T20Is following India’s World Cup triumph last year and will now focus solely on ODIs moving forward.
Kohli’s numbers in red-ball cricket are etched in golden ink. His 30 Test centuries place him joint-fourth among Indians, while his total of 9230 runs makes him India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format. Globally, he ranks among the modern greats to have graced the five-day game.
The tributes poured in quickly. Former cricketer Irfan Pathan lauded Kohli for changing "mindsets" and raising "fitness and pride in whites" as the new standard. The BCCI thanked him for an era-defining contribution, while his brother, Vikas Kohli, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram: “ALWAYS PROUD OF YOU BHAI… Stay blessed.”
As it stands, Virat Kohli will continue to feature in ODIs – the only international format he now remains active in.