After days of speculation, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket in an emotional Instagram post. The news comes after India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, also confirmed his retirement from the longest format of the game. Reports had surfaced that Kohli had communicated his decision to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and although the board attempted to persuade him to reconsider, the efforts were unsuccessful.
In his farewell message, Kohli reflected on his debut 14 years ago, when he first donned the baggy blue for India. Over the course of his career, Kohli played 123 Tests, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. His impressive tally includes 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 254. Whether playing at home or abroad, Kohli consistently delivered stellar performances with the bat. However, one regret may linger for the star player – falling short of reaching 10,000 runs in Tests.
Kohli’s decision to retire marks the latest in a series of exits by senior players from the Indian Test team. Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement in December, and Rohit Sharma followed suit last week. Now, Kohli becomes the third major figure to step down, with discussions around pacer Mohammed Shami’s future in Test cricket also ongoing.
