Superstar India batter Virat Kohli has announced his immediate retirement from Test cricket. The decision comes just weeks before India embarks on its much-anticipated five-Test tour of England, set to begin on June 20. Kohli’s retirement follows the announcement by Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who revealed his own retirement last Wednesday.

Kohli’s Test career, which began in 2011 against the West Indies, has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over his 12-year international career, he played 123 Test matches for India, amassing 9,230 runs. His remarkable tally includes 30 centuries, at an average of 46.85.

“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,” Kohli said in a social media statement on Monday morning. “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.”

Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket comes after a successful period in which he also bid farewell to T20 internationals in 2024, following India’s triumph in the ICC T20 World Cup.

During his time in Test cricket, Kohli also had an incredibly successful tenure as India’s captain. He led India in 68 Tests, securing 40 victories—making him the most successful captain in Indian Test cricket history.

Kohli retires as India’s fourth-most successful Test batter of all time, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. He is also regarded as one of the four batting legends of his era alongside England’s Joe Root, Australia’s Steve Smith, and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.