May 13, 2025: Former Pakistan cricketer and ex-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja paid a heartfelt tribute to Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli, shortly after the 36-year-old announced his retirement from Test cricket. Kohli, who has been one of the most prominent faces in world cricket over the last decade, ended his illustrious red-ball career with 123 Test matches, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and an average of 46.85.
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In an emotional statement, Ramiz Raja said, “With his retirement, modern day Test cricket will feel quiet and empty, as he was its best spokesperson.” Raja’s words resonated with the sentiments of fans and experts around the globe who have long admired Kohli’s unmatched passion and aggression in the longest format of the game.
Virat Kohli took to Instagram on Monday to confirm his decision, marking the end of a 14-year journey in Indian whites that began in 2011. “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 wrote. “As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right.”
He continued, “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for… I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off.”
Kohli’s decision comes just a week after Rohit Sharma also announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket. Kohli’s recent form in Tests had dipped, with only 190 runs across nine innings during the Australia tour in late 2024, averaging just 23.75. However, his legacy remains intact — not just in statistics, but in the fearless and fiery spirit he brought to the Indian Test team.