In a shocker to ardent cricket followers, Virat Kohli on Monday introduced his retirement from Take a look at Cricket. Kohli took to Instagram to announce the event.
Whereas sharing an image from the sector, he wrote on Instagram: “It has been 14 years since I first wore the dishevelled blue in Take a look at cricket. Actually, I by no means imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s examined me, formed me, and taught me classes I’ll carry for all times. There’s one thing deeply private about taking part in in whites. The quiet grind, the lengthy days, the small moments that nobody sees however that stick with you eternally.”
He additional wrote that although this determination wasn’t a simple one, it felt proper. “I’ve given all the things I had, and it is given me again a lot greater than I may’ve hoped for.” Whereas thanking his followers and viewers, Kohli mentioned that he’s strolling away from Take a look at cricket with gratitude.
“I’m strolling away with a coronary heart filled with gratitude — for the sport, for the folks I shared the sector with, and for each single one who made me really feel seen alongside the way in which. I’ll at all times look again at my Take a look at profession with a smile,” he mentioned in direction of the top of his put up.
Quickly after Virat Kohli’s announcement, the Board of Management for Cricket in India wrote on X: “𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶! An period ends in Take a look at cricket however the legacy will proceed FOREVER! @imVkohli, the previous Staff India Captain retires from Take a look at cricket. His contributions to #TeamIndia will eternally be cherished (sic)!”
Kohli’s last Take a look at look was within the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy that was held in Australia. The match was an embarrassing one for Kolhi as he managed simply 190 runs throughout 5 matches, with 85 runs coming within the final 4 Exams. His century at Perth was the spotlight of this match.
Kohli made his Take a look at debut in opposition to the West Indies in 2011 and solidified his spot throughout the Australia tour later that yr. As captain, he led India to 40 wins in 68 Exams, making him probably the most profitable Indian Take a look at captain by wins.
He retires because the fourth-most profitable Take a look at captain globally, following Graeme Smith (53 wins), Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Steve Waugh (41 wins). Kohli recorded 30 Take a look at centuries, rating fourth amongst Indian batters, behind Sachin Tendulkar (51), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34).
He additionally achieved seven Take a look at double lots of, the best for an Indian. As a captain, Kohli holds the document for probably the most Take a look at lots of by an Indian, considerably forward of Gavaskar, who had 11 centuries.