Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket; AB de Villiers, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kevin Pietersen and co. react

After days of speculation, Indian cricket stalwart Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket through an Instagram post on Monday, May 12.

Advertisment

Reports had emerged earlier suggesting that Kohli had informed the BCCI of his intent to retire from the longest format, sending shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity. Although the board reportedly attempted to convince him to reconsider, their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been instrumental in India’s red-ball resurgence over the past decade. His aggressive captaincy, prolific batting, and unmatched intensity helped India dominate Test cricket both at home and abroad.

Virat Kohli’s Test Career in Numbers

Advertisment

He concluded his Test career with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 from 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, with a highest score of 254. Having already retired from T20Is last year, the star batter will now focus solely on the ODI format.

Kohli is also the most successful Indian Test captain. He led India in 68 Test matches from 2015 to 2022, winning 40, losing 17, and drawing 11.

Between 2010 and 2019, he was also India's most prolific batter. During this period, he amassed 7,202 runs at an average of 54.97, including 27 centuries — the most by any batter at the time — making him the third-highest Test run-scorer of the decade.

Advertisment

Given Kohli’s frequent assertion that Test cricket was his favorite format, many were surprised by his decision to step away. Considering his exceptional fitness, it’s fair to believe he could have continued playing for several more years.

At the end of his career, Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the greatest Test cricketers of all time. The right-hander was often credited with revitalizing the format, thanks to his aggressive approach and unwavering passion that kept the game thrilling and competitive.

Following his announcement, numerous current and former cricketers paid tribute to Kohli, sharing their admiration and best wishes on social media.

Here are some of their posts:

https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1921818936477204767

https://twitter.com/bhogleharsha/status/1921813357583032571

https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/1921826269848818069

https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1921834294588174827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/JayShah/status/1921835141208461811

https://twitter.com/mayankcricket/status/1921828243201736713

https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh/status/1921833151623536925?

https://twitter.com/sanjaymanjrekar/status/1921821105859252638

https://twitter.com/ImRaina/status/1921827258840285221

https://twitter.com/IrfanPathan/status/1921821560668557624

https://twitter.com/ABdeVilliers17/status/1921828904290914332

https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1921819989226459182

https://twitter.com/Sanath07/status/1921824258558243289

https://twitter.com/isaguha/status/1921811393310859307

https://twitter.com/farveezmaharoof/status/1921846399156494508

https://twitter.com/Brad_Hogg/status/1921851987320017261

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!