One of the world’s and India’s greatest batsman Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, ending his 14 years of Test career. He has retired from T20 already when India wins T20 World Cup. He will play only one day cricket now for India. He has announced his retirement after Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement.
The 36-year-old Kohli, who admitted that it wasn’t an easy call to make, turned up in 123 Tests for India, scoring 9230 runs with 30 hundreds at an average of 46.85.
“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 announced on his instagram page, putting an end to incessant speculation about his future in the format that peaked after the tour of Australia earlier this year.
Since he made his debut in 2011, Kohli captained India to the world number one position in the format and made a history in his captaincy when India wins their first ever Test series in Australia 2018-19
“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 added.
“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 wrote in his farewell note for the format.
“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’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” he added.