Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, saying it on Monday. There were some suggestions that he had sent an email to the BCCI unlinking his retirement, because they asked him to think twice.
Kohli made the final call via an emotional post on Instagram. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, announced his retirement last week, which started a small discussion about Kohli’s future given that he hasn’t really been at his best in the Tests of late.
Kohli’s stats have shown a downward trend since 2020, and aside from an impressive performance in 2023, he hasn’t really impressed the cricket world. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia was not a happy time for him; whilst he managed to score a blistering century in Perth, he couldn’t carry that run of form on to the next four matches, resulting, in a humiliating loss for the team. Following Rohit’s retirement, Kohli decided to step aside also, leaving the Indian team headed to England with a young team.
In his long instagram post Kohli wrote: “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,
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“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.”
“As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for,” Kohli wrote.
“I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” Kohli added.
When MS Dhoni retired from Tests after the 2014-15 series, Kohli took over as captain while India was ranked 7th in the ICC standings. By the time he stepped down in 2022, India had reached the top of the rankings. Kohli focused on Test cricket, helping India become strong not just at home but also in challenging conditions abroad. Over 123 matches, he scored 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries.
