India star Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket, just over a month ahead of the England tour.
Kohli retires: 'I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude'
On Monday (May 12), Kohli posted a statement via Instagram: "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.
"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.
"#269, signing off."
Reports of his retirement came a few days ago, as India gear up for a vital tour of England next month. His recent form in the longest format has been poor, and the confirmation of his stepping away from red-ball cricket comes on the back of Indian skipper Rohit Sharma doing the same last week.
When they go to England in June, India will not only have a new captain, but also need to find a replacement for Rohit as an opener and Kohli at No.4. The pairs' retirements come less than six months after another Test stalwart, R Ashwin, also retired during India's tour of Australia.
In his announcement, Rohit mentioned that he would continue to represent India in ODIs. Kohli has not explicitly said the same, but has only said that he is stepping away from the Test format. The pair also retired from T20Is together, on the day India lifted the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Kohli retires after 14 years of Test cricket, a period in which he scored 9,230 runs – placing him fourth behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar among Indians. He currently sits 19th on the list of Test cricket's leading run-scorers of all time.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
