Former captain of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, giving a major setback to the cricket fans. This announcement of India’s five matches in England from 20 June Test series Has been done a few days before it started. Kohli, one of India’s most successful Test batsmen, was struggling with poor form in this format for the last few years and his retirement was dominated by the series against England on social media.
Virat scored 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85 in the longest format of the game. Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011 and became the captain of the team after three years. He led the country in 68 Tests, the highest by an Indian, out of which only 17 (25 percent) lost. With a win percentage of 58.82 percent (40 wins, 11 draws), he remains India’s most successful red-ball captain. Under Kohli’s captaincy, India won a series in Australia for the first time in 2019.
His last Test was also in Australia (Sydney), early this year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Virat announced his retirement by posting from his official Instagram account. He wrote in this post, “For the first time in Test cricket, it has been 14 years since Bagi Blue Jersey. Honestly, I never thought that Y ੇ format will take me on what journey it would take me. He took my test, gave me shape and teach me a lesson that I will keep with life. Playing in white clothes is a very personal experience. Silent hard work is a very personal experience. Long days, long-term for those who are not with you.”
Further, Virat wrote, “When I am going away from this format, it is not easy but it seems right. I have given me everything in it and it has given me more than my expectation. I am taking a heart full of gratitude for the game, for the people playing on the field and for every person who took me forward in this journey. I will always watch my test career.”
Let us tell you that after winning India’s 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli has already retired from T20 international matches. This means that now Kohli and Rohit will be seen playing only in ODI format.
