Virat Kohli Bids Farewell to Test Cricket: A Legacy Etched in Grit, Glory, and Greatness

May 12, 2025: Cricketing icon Virat Kohli shocked fans across the globe by announcing his retirement from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on a remarkable 14-year journey in the longest and most demanding format of the game.

The announcement, made via Kohli’s Instagram, triggered an emotional wave of tributes from fans, peers, and celebrities. Bollywood stars Suniel Shetty and Vicky Kaushal were among the first to react.

“You didn’t just play Test cricket, Virat. You lived it,” wrote Suniel Shetty, reposting Kohli’s retirement statement. “You honoured it, breathed fire, wore your heart on your sleeve, and your passion like armour… The red-ball rests, but your legacy endures.”

Vicky Kaushal added, “You did it your way, and that way will truly be missed. Congratulations on an incredibly inspiring Test career and thank you for the memories, Champ!”

Kohli’s heartfelt post reflected on his Test journey that began in June 2011 against the West Indies. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket,” he wrote. “It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”

Over his 123-Test career, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, making him India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.

While his debut series was a modest one, Kohli announced himself to the world with a gritty century in Adelaide in 2012. He scored 300 runs in a tour where legends faltered, setting the tone for a career marked by resilience, aggression, and excellence.

Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli was at the peak of his Test powers, scoring 4,208 runs in 43 matches at an extraordinary average of 66.79. This phase included 16 centuries and an unmatched record of seven double hundreds as captain—the most in Test history.

However, the 2020s brought a dip in form, with Kohli averaging just 30.72 across 39 Tests. Despite this, he managed a solid 2023, with 671 runs at 55.91, including two centuries. His final Test century came in Perth during India’s recent tour of Australia.

Throughout his career, Kohli faced and overcame technical vulnerabilities, especially against spin and deliveries outside off-stump. His adaptability and fighting spirit were on display during his redemption tour of England in 2018, where he silenced critics with 593 runs.

From battling the world’s fiercest bowling attacks to leading India through iconic wins and setting new benchmarks for fitness and intensity, Kohli’s Test legacy is unparalleled. His unmatched passion redefined India’s identity in red-ball cricket, turning every innings into a spectacle of discipline and drama.

As the red ball rests and fans come to terms with the end of an era, Kohli’s Test legacy remains an enduring chapter in cricket history.