Virat Kohli Bids Farewell to Test Cricket
Cricket icon Virat Kohli steps away from Test Cricket. Cricket legends around the world react to the shocking news.
On May 12, 2025, Kohli announced his retirement from Test Cricket after contributing to this format for fourteen years. He has accumulated 9,230 runs and 30 centuries in Test Cricket.
“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.” Virat wrote on social media.
“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.
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,” he wrote on social media.
His retirement prompted a flood of reactions from many prominent personalities from the cricket world.
Tendulkar posted on his social channels: “Your true legacy, Virat, lies in inspiring countless young cricketers to pick up the sport. What an incredible Test career you have had! You have given Indian cricket so much more than just runs – you have given it a new generation of passionate fans and players. Congratulations on a very special Test career.”
ICC Chairman Jay Shah commended Kohli for championing Test cricket amid the rise of T20.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri hailed him as a modern-day giant and ambassador for Test cricket.
Indian coach Greg Chappell wrote in the Sydney Herald, “Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for more than a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century. His departure leaves not only a statistical void, but a seismic shift in energy – for there has never been another quite like him.”
Kohli’s retirement was even more shocking because it came right before the start of the new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. India are scheduled to play against England in a five-match series starting 24 June.
He will now be seen in IPL matches and 50-over cricket. The cricket legend will always be remembered for his flair, style, and leadership as his journey in Test cricket comes to an end.
