Kohli retires from test cricket

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli announced his retirement from test cricket on Monday, a couple days after reports began circulating that he had communicated his desire to step away from the longest format to the Board of Control for Cricket in India.  

“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,” Kohli wrote on Instagram.

The Indian batter looked back on his 14-year career, reminiscing on what he had learned, and the people he shared the field with.

“I’ll always look back at my test career with a smile.”

Kohli has played 123 matches in the format, scoring a total of 9230 runs across the 210 innings he batted in. His average is 46.85, and he has made 30 centuries and 31 half centuries. His highest score came against South Africa in 2019.

The announcement came despite team management reportedly hoping for his experience to help India come out on top against England in their upcoming tour, which kicks off on June 20th. Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to lead the team, as Rohit Sharma retired from the test format earlier.  

Kohli will now only be available for ODI games, as he retired from the shortest format after the 2024 T20 World Cup. With the absence of both Kohli and Sharma in two of the three formats, India will be looking for their young stars to take on more responsibility.