India’s cricketing icon Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format of the game. The 36-year-old batsman, widely regarded as one of the finest of his generation, confirmed his decision through a heartfelt message on Instagram, acknowledging the challenges of walking away from the game he helped redefine.
"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," Kohli wrote, putting an end to intense speculation about his future in the format.
Kohli’s departure from Test cricket comes after a run of 123 matches, in which he amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and seven double hundreds – the highest by any Indian. His tally surpasses the likes of Sunil Gavaskar (4), Sachin Tendulkar (6), Virender Sehwag (6), and Rahul Dravid (5), cementing his place among the giants of Indian cricket.
Reflecting on his journey, Kohli wrote, "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."
Despite his considerable achievements, Kohli fell short of the 10,000-run milestone, a target once considered well within his reach. His final Test assignment, a tour of Australia, was a modest one by his lofty standards, yielding just one hundred.
Nonetheless, Kohli's influence on Test cricket remains profound. At a time when the shortest formats dominate the sport, Kohli’s passion for the traditional game has been credited with keeping the format alive. This sentiment was echoed by West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards, to whom Kohli has often been compared.
"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," Kohli said, capturing the unique allure of Test cricket.
"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," he added. "I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile."
Kohli’s retirement adds to the growing list of Indian stalwarts bidding farewell to Test cricket, following the recent exits of Ravichandran Ashwin in December and Rohit Sharma last week.
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