Cricket

End Of An Era: Virat Kohli Retires From Test Cricket

Legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable red-ball career that spanned 14 years. In an emotional Instagram post on May 12, the 36-year-old reflected on his journey, describing Test cricket as a format that "tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life." Kohli ends his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries 바카라” a record that cements his place among India's all-time greats. His heartfelt note, in which he said, "I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude." Kohli바카라™s retirement follows closely on the heels of similar decisions by Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, marking the beginning of a significant generational shift in Indian cricket 바카라” reminiscent of the 2012-2013 transition that saw the departures of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag.

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Virat Kohli announces Test retirement | Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav

In this file image cricketer Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century during a test cricket match against Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad Sunday, March 12, 2023

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Aijaz Rahi, File

India's Virat Kohli avoids to play a rising delivery during the day three of the first cricket test match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Rajanish Kakade, File

India's Virat Kohli comes out to bat during the first day of the third cricket test match between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, in Mumbai, India, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File

India's Virat Kohli watches the ball after playing a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File

India's Virat Kohli plays a shot during play on the second day of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Virat Kohli announces Test retirement | Photo: PTI/Atul Yadav

In this file image cricketer Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century during a test cricket match against Australia at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad Sunday, March 12, 2023.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Altaf Qadri, File

India's Virat Kohli poses with his wife Anshuka Sharma during the facilitation ceremony of Kohli for his 100th Test ahead of the first test match between India and Sri Lanka in Mohali, India, Friday, March 4, 2022.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Jon Super, File

India's captain Virat Kohli walks back after the toss on the first day of third test cricket match between England and India, at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, England, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Ricardo Mazalan, File

India's captain Virat Kohli walks with the series trophy after day four of the second Test cricket match against West Indies at Sabina Park cricket ground in Kingston, Jamaica Monday, Sept. 2, 2019.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Mahesh Kumar A., File

India's captain Virat Kohli plays a shot during the fourth day of the first cricket test match against South Africa in Visakhapatnam, India, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Rajanish Kakade, File

India's Virat Kohli bats during the second day of the cricket test match between India and South Africa in Pune, India, Friday, Oct. 11, 2019.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Virat Kohli announces Test retirement | Photo: PTI/Swapan Mahapatra

In this file image cricketer Virat Kohli celebrates scoring a century during cricket test match between India and Bangladesh, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File

India's captain Virat Kohli walks onto the field during play on day four of the third cricket test between India and Australia in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Rui Vieira, File

India's captain Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century during the second day of the first test cricket match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Rui Vieira, File

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli leads his team off the field after their victory over England by 203 runs in the third cricket test match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Matt Dunham, File

India captain Virat Kohli smiles as he walks between the wickets after an over during the fifth cricket test match of a five match series between England and India at the Oval cricket ground in London, Friday, Sept. 7, 2018.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File

India's captain Virat Kohli, center, addresses his teammates as they prepare to take to the field during play on day four of the third cricket test between India and Australia in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena, File

India's cricket captain Virat Kohli dives to catch a ball during a training session ahead of their second test cricket match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Eranga Jayawardena, File

Indian players are reflected in the goggles of team captain Virat Kohli before the start of the fourth day's play of their second cricket test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Aijaz Rahi, File

India's captain Virat Kohli gestures towards Australia's Matt Renshaw as he runs to celebrate the dismissal of David Warner during the fourth day of their third test cricket match in Ranchi, India, Sunday, March 19, 2017.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Rajanish Kakade, File

India's captain Virat Kohli looks skywards as he celebrates scoring double century during the third day of their second test cricket match against Sri Lanka in Nagpur, India, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Aijaz Rahi File

India's captain Virat Kohli takes a selfie with fans after attending a training session ahead of their second cricket test match against South Africa, in Bangalore, India, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Tsering Topgyal, File

Indian test cricket team captain Virat Kohli celebrates as the last South African wicket of Morne Morkel, right, falls to give India a 3-0 win in the test series in New Delhi, India, Monday, Dec. 7, 2015.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/David Mariuz, File

India's Virat Kohli celebrates his first Test hundred against Australia during their cricket test match in Adelaide, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012.

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Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Kohli retires from Test cricket | Photo: AP/Aijaz Rahi, File

India's Virat Kohli gestures during the third day of their second cricket test match against New Zealand in Bangalore, India, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012.

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