Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket After Iconic 14-Year Career:

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : Renowned Indian cricketer Virat Kohli has officially retired after 14 years of playing Test Cricket. He made the announcement via a deeply nostalgic Instagram post on May 12 reflecting on his debut back in 2011, his trajectory, and how thankful he is for the sport.

His final Stats:

• 9230 runs in 123 Tests
• 30 centuries
• A staggering 46.85 career average
• India’s most successful Test captain

Kohli’s Instagram Farewell: “It Feels Right”

Kohli's deeply emotional retirement statement added:
“There's something deeply personal about playing in whites... I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude. The game, the people I shared the field with, the people who made me feel visible, all of it.”

He went on to say “#269, signing off". A unique take to honoring his Test cap number.

India's Transition Phase Starts as Kohli Steps Down

Kohli’s departure comes right after Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin signaling a massive change in Indian Test cricket. The analogy here is the 2012 era after Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, and Sehwag retired.

Rumors suggest that it was BCCI’s wish for him to keep going, however, it was Kohli himself who took that final call.

A Journey That Started from Sabina Park, 2011

Kohli’s first match was against the West Indies in Jamaica right after the Indian team lifted the ODI World Cup in 2011. His first big achievement in Test cricket came in 2012 when he made 116 in Adelaide. In 2014, he went back to Australia and made twin centuries, becoming the stand-in captain for India’s side before full replacing MSD (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) as captain later on.

Iconic Innings and Career Highs

Some of Kohli’s notable Test innings are:

119 & 96 runs against South Africa, 2013
147 & 169 runs against Australia, 2014-15
167 & 235 runs against England, 2016
104 runs against Sri Lanka*, 2017
153 runs against South Africa at Centurion, 2018
149, 97 & 103 runs against England, 2018
123 runs in Perth against Australia, 2018
7 double hundreds from 2016-2019

His long-standing competition with James Anderson as well as his overseas dominance, especially in Australia and England, significantly increased his reputation worldwide.

Final Test Match at the SCG in January 2025

Kohli’s final Test match was at the SCG– a fitting backdrop for him given his amazing history at the ground. The enduring impact of Kohli’s exit signifies the closing chapter of one of the greatest Test careers in the history of Indian cricket.