Cricket: “It’s not easy – but it feels right.” - India Superstar Virat Kohli retires from Test matches
Why did Kohli call time on his Test career?
India’s star batsman Virat Kohli made a gobsmacking announcement on Monday, May 12, by revealing that he is retiring from Test cricket with immediate effect, just one month before the Men in Blue travel to face England in a five-match Test series.
Kohli’s decision came just a week after another India great, Rohit Sharma, decided to call time on his career in the longest format following rumours that national team selectors were considering stripping him of the captaincy for the upcoming clash against the Three Lions.
The RCB batter will continue to represent the Men in Blue in limited-overs matches, with their next series set for August against Bangladesh. However, he will resume action this weekend in the Indian Premier League, and our IPL predictions will be available ahead of the tournament’s resumption.
In an emotional social media post, Kohli wrote:
“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.”
The 36-year-old batsman had previously mentioned in an interview that mental fatigue and injuries could force him to retire from Tests, but there is a case to be made that his recent form in the red-ball format also played a significant role in his decision.
During his peak, Kohli averaged in the mid-50s with the bat in Test matches, but since the start of 2023, that has dropped to the low-30s. Like Sharma, his performances over the last two years received additional criticism after India suffered a 3-0 series sweep against New Zealand and lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1.
Barring a century in the first Test against the Baggy Greens, Kohli only managed to score 90 runs in eight innings during the series. It is understood that he made the BCCI aware of his decision to quit Test cricket shortly after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January.
‘King Kohli’ was the 269th player to represent India in Test cricket, and across his 14-year stint, he scored an incredible 9,230 runs in 123 matches, which places him fourth in India’s all-time highest run-scorers in the five-day format.
Kohli Test records and reactions to retirement
Following Kohli’s announcement to retire from Test cricket, several former India greats took to social media to voice their thoughts and appreciation for his contribution to the country and Indian cricket as a whole over the last decade.
"As you retire from Tests, I'm reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heartwarming and has stayed with me ever since." - Sachin Tendulkar.
"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." - Ravi Shastri.
Kohli captained India in 68 Tests and won 40, which is the most for an Indian captain and the fourth overall in Test cricket. During his test career, he recorded seven double centuries and 30 tons, the latter of which is the 14th most of any cricketer in the history of the game.
