Former India captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The announcement came weeks ahead of the five-Test series against England and days after captain Rohit Sharma bid goodbye to the longest format.
"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 wrote on social media.
"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.
"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’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.
"I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.
"#269, signing off."
Kohli's Test record
36-year-old Kohli retires as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests. He has 9,230 runs from 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, featuring 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His highest score in Tests is 254 not out. Kohli is also India's most successful captain in Tests. Under Kohli's leadership, India won 40 Tests out of 68, lost 17 whereas 11 ended in a draw. His win percentage in the format as captain is 58.82 per cent.