'Can't believe you are done...': Former head coach Ravi Shastri to AB de Villiers, cricket fraternity hails Virat Kohli as he announces Test retirement

Sports Tak

UPDATED: May 12, 2025 03:44 PM IST

'Can't believe you are done...': Former head coach Ravi Shastri to AB de Villiers, cricket fraternity hails Virat Kohli as he announces Test retirement

India's Virat Kohli (L) and coach Ravi Shastri attend a training session in Perth on December 13, 2018.

Story Highlights:

Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket without breaching the 10,000 mark in Test cricket.

Kohli ended his red-ball carer ahead of Test tour of England.

Kohli ended his Test career as India's fourth highest run-scorer in the longest format.

It will be apt to say that it is an end of an era as Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket. Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, ahead of India's squad announcement for the five-Test series against England. While many had requested Kohli to rethink his decision when he informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decision, Kohli did not change his mind. After the announcement, former head coach Ravi Shastri to his former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate AB de Villiers to his critic Sanjay Manjrekar, all hailed the 36-year-old who revolutionised Test cricket in the era of T20s.

Here are the reactions to Kohli's Test retirement -

Can’t believe you are done. You are a modern-day GIANT and were a fantastic ambassador for Test match cricket in every way you played and captained. Thank you for the lasting memories you’ve given to everyone, and to me in particular. It’s something I will cherish for life. Go… pic.twitter.com/1te6LFGdMx
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) May 12, 2025

Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli. 🙏🙏🙏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 12, 2025

A man with lion’s passion!
Will miss u cheeks…. pic.twitter.com/uNGW7Y8Ak6
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 12, 2025

Congrats to my biscotti @imVkohli on an epic Test career! Your determination & skill have always inspired me. True legend! ❤️🙌🏻 #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/2DnNLRzSrI
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 12, 2025

Congratulations on a phenomenal Test career, Virat Kohli.
As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets.
You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard.
A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket.#ThankYouVirat pic.twitter.com/rvFAulcMSQ
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 12, 2025

Congratulations Virat on a Test career you can be incredibly proud of! Your passion for the format was inspiring...and it was an honour to share the crease with you over the years, in the heat of many-a-battle, grinding it out for the country! Will cherish the several memories… pic.twitter.com/0Qp9vofOPn
— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) May 12, 2025

Test cricket brought out the fighter in you and you gave it everything! You played the way greats do, with hunger in your heart, fire in your belly and pride in every stride. Proud of what you've done in whites. Go well King Kohli! @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/ydJBA9W1I8
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 12, 2025

Your passion & leadership in Test cricket have inspired millions, brother! Love and respect bro @imVkohli

Sad to see you step away, but your legacy will live on. 🙌 #Legend #thankyouvirat pic.twitter.com/6Ce9Z0wnPj
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 12, 2025

Set high standards and lived by them
Not a bad record as captain either,
58.82% win ratio as captain.#viratkohli pic.twitter.com/4ycuG3cB0m
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) May 12, 2025

Virat?!?! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 12, 2025

A champion on and off the field, an absolute genius of the game. @imVkohli, playing with you was a sheer pleasure... It's hard to accept that the nation will miss you watching in Test cricket. You will be remembered as one of the greatest legends ever to have graced the game.… pic.twitter.com/u6MrkNUZkx
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) May 12, 2025

Take a bow legend, for you are leaving behind an epic legacy. You make India proud. 🇮🇳 🏏

Wish you the very best! 🙌🏻#ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/qso5XWC6gK
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 12, 2025

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Kohli's Test accolades

Kohli retired as India's most successful Test captain. He scored most runs by an Indian Test captain and led India to their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy win on Australian soil in 71 years. He holds the record for most Test double centuries for an Indian batter. Also, he is India's fourth-highest run-scorer in the format.