After Rohit Sharma’s retirement from longest format of the game couple of days back, it was time for Virat Kohli to bring down cutains to his test career. The former India skipper penned an emotional note on his Instagram handle about his decision to retire. He 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.”
“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 added, “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. 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.
Virat Kohli’s test career and records
The 36-year-old cricketer enjoyed a remarkable career in Test cricket, having made his debut against the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2011. Over the span of 14 years, Virat Kohli reached numerous milestones, most notably as India’s most successful Test captain, securing 40 wins in 68 matches.
Among his many achievements, the standout moment was leading India to a historic 2-1 series victory in Australia during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy—their first-ever series win on Australian soil. Under his leadership, India also held the ICC Test mace for five consecutive years, establishing themselves as the world’s top-ranked Test team. The Delhi-born batter concludes his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries.
Virat Kohli’s biggest Test records:
Most runs in a calendar year by an Indian batter – 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2023
Highest score by an Indian captain: 254* vs South Africa (2019)
Most centuries as Indian captain: 20
Most runs as India captain: 5864
Most double hundreds for India: 7
Most double hundreds as captain: 6
Most wins as Test captain of India: 40
Double centuries in consecutive series: 4
Highest rating points earned by an Indian in men’s batting rankings: 937 (2018)
First Asian captain to win a Test series in Australia (2018-19)
Most consecutive Test series wins as captain: 9
Most hundreds by an Indian in Australia: 7
