Right time to go?
In Indian conditions, Kohli played 55 Test matches and scored 4,336 runs, including 14 centuries and 13 half-centuries. His highest Test score also came on home soil, a commanding 254 not-out against South Africa, in Pune in 2019.
However, his form had begun to drop with his 100 not out in the first Test against Australia last November, being his first century in 15 innings, stretching across 16 months.
Grateful to the game
Turning to social media to leave a message, Kohli posted how he could not have imagined the “journey” test cricket would take him on. “It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,” he said, before adding: “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.”
Continuing, he spoke of how stepping away from the test format would not be easy for him, but he felt it was the right time. “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for; so 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.”
Governing body full of praise
India cricket’s governing body, the BCCI, praised Kohli for “redefining the standards of excellence, leadership and commitment in Indian cricket”.
Their president, Roger Binny added: “Virat Kohli’s name will be remembered alongside the finest ever to have graced Test cricket; what set him apart was not just his hunger for runs, but his commitment to excellence in the toughest format of the game.
“His leadership marked a shift in how India competed overseas – with aggression, belief and a refusal to settle for second best. He inspired a generation to take pride in the whites, and his impact on Indian cricket will be felt for decades to come.”
Tribute from a fellow great
One of the few Indian cricketers able to be mentioned in the same conversation as Kohli is Sachin Tendulkar and he paid tribute when casting his mind back to a gesture made by the player during his own final test match.
“You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heart-warming and has stayed with me ever since.
“While I may not have a thread to offer in return, please know that you carry my deepest admiration and very best wishes. Your true legacy, Virat, lies in inspiring countless young cricketers to pick up the sport.”
Not quite the final “over”
Although the retirement of Kohli – following on so quickly from that of Rohit Sharma – signals another stage in the regeneration of the India Test team, there will it is to be hoped – from an Indian perspective at least – plenty more one-day international innings to savour.
