New Delhi (National Times): In a move that has stunned the cricketing world, Indian batting legend Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing to a close a glittering 14-year chapter in the game’s most revered format.
Kohli took to social media on Monday to share the news with his fans. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket… It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,” he wrote. Ending with “#269, signing off,” Kohli signaled the end of his journey as India’s 269th Test player.
Kohli retires with 9,230 runs from 123 Tests, including 27 centuries. While his form dipped after the COVID-19 pandemic, averaging just 30.72 since 2020, his contributions before that had already established him among the greats.
He also enjoyed immense success as a captain, leading India in 68 Tests and securing 40 wins — the highest by any Indian skipper. His record includes historic overseas victories and an unbeaten home run that transformed India into a red-ball powerhouse.
Despite starting strong in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a century in Perth, Kohli struggled later in the series and managed only 193 runs across the tour, contributing to what may have cemented his decision to step away.
While he will continue to play white-ball cricket, Kohli’s Test retirement marks the end of a transformative era — one where he not only piled on runs but also changed how India approached the longest format: with aggression, fitness, and fearlessness.
