Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious red-ball career that spanned 14 years and redefined India's presence in the longest format of the game.

Kohli, 36, made the announcement via Instagram on Monday, calling it a “heartfelt and difficult” decision. He played 123 Tests for India, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and a record seven double hundreds—more than any other Indian.

“I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude,” Kohli wrote. “Test cricket tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”

Debuting in 2011, Kohli emerged as a force in the format, both as a batter and as a captain. Under his leadership, India reached new heights, including their first-ever Test series win in Australia and a dominant home record. Though he fell short of the 10,000-run milestone, Kohli's impact was never just about the numbers. His passion, intensity, and refusal to compromise on fitness and standards became hallmarks of a new era for Indian cricket.

Kohli’s final Test series, a tour of Australia earlier this year, saw him score just one century, stirring speculation about his future. His retirement follows close on the heels of Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin, who also bowed out of Tests in recent months.

Tributes poured in from across the cricketing world. “He made whites glamorous again,” wrote former England captain Michael Vaughan. Sir Vivian Richards, long an admirer of Kohli, called him “Test cricket’s modern gladiator.”

Kohli will continue to represent India in One-Day Internationals. He had earlier retired from T20 Internationals in 2024.

“Test cricket gave me everything,” Kohli said. “Now, I walk away with pride and peace.”

Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious red-ball career that spanned 14 years and redefined India's presence in the longest format of the game.

Kohli, 36, made the announcement via Instagram on Monday, calling it a “heartfelt and difficult” decision. He played 123 Tests for India, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and a record seven double hundreds—more than any other Indian.

“I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude,” Kohli wrote. “Test cricket tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”

Debuting in 2011, Kohli emerged as a force in the format, both as a batter and as a captain. Under his leadership, India reached new heights, including their first-ever Test series win in Australia and a dominant home record. Though he fell short of the 10,000-run milestone, Kohli's impact was never just about the numbers. His passion, intensity, and refusal to compromise on fitness and standards became hallmarks of a new era for Indian cricket.

Kohli’s final Test series, a tour of Australia earlier this year, saw him score just one century, stirring speculation about his future. His retirement follows close on the heels of Rohit Sharma and R Ashwin, who also bowed out of Tests in recent months.

Tributes poured in from across the cricketing world. “He made whites glamorous again,” wrote former England captain Michael Vaughan. Sir Vivian Richards, long an admirer of Kohli, called him “Test cricket’s modern gladiator.”

Kohli will continue to represent India in One-Day Internationals. He had earlier retired from T20 Internationals in 2024.

“Test cricket gave me everything,” Kohli said. “Now, I walk away with pride and peace.”