Image: After 123 matches and 9,230 runs, Kohli retires from Test cricket / © News18
With the cricketing world still digesting Rohit Sharma’s recent Test retirement, another big name has stepped away as Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The timing of this announcement is significant, coming just weeks before India’s five-match Test series in England, starting June 20. Kohli, one of India’s greatest Test batters, had been enduring a challenging phase in the longest format, particularly during Australia’s 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Despite a century in the first Test of that series, Kohli managed just 186 runs across five matches, struggling for consistency. This downturn is seen as a key reason behind his decision to retire. Over his illustrious Test career, Kohli played 123 games, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. At home, he was dominant with 4,336 runs at 55.58, while overseas he contributed 4,774 runs at 41.51.
In two neutral Tests, he scored 120 runs. As captain, Kohli led India in 68 Tests, winning 40, losing 17, and drawing 11, a win percentage of 58.82, the highest for any Indian Test skipper. He amassed 5,864 runs as captain at an average of 54.80 with 20 centuries. Kohli’s leadership and batting have left a lasting mark on Indian cricket.