Virat Kohli retires with 123 Tests and 9230 runs with 30 centuries from 2011 to 2025.
Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, ending three days of speculation. The decision caught many devoted fans of the format off guard.
Given Kohli's role in inspiring a generation of Test cricket hopefuls in a nation increasingly captivated by the IPL, his choice to retire just before a crucial overseas series was unexpected, to say the least.
While the timing did raise some eyebrows, several figures within the Indian cricket fraternity — including players, coaching staff, and administrators — maintained that there was little substance to any conspiracy theories surrounding the move.
“Once he had made up his mind to let the younger lot take over ahead of the new World Test Championship cycle, everyone else was kind of helpless. There were a few attempts made to check if he was willing to reconsider his decision, but to no avail,” a highly-placed source told Sportstar.
Last month, Kohli personally conveyed his decision to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect to a member of the team management, prompting some internal discussions within the Indian camp.
A few in the management believed his experience and trademark intensity on the field would be crucial in the upcoming series in England, particularly with Rohit Sharma also calling time on his Test career. However, Kohli respectfully affirmed that his decision was final, saying he had “made up his mind.”
“This decision – both by Rohit and Virat – underlines the shift in Indian cricket, introduced by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, of always placing the team ahead of personal records or milestones. The moment both of them sensed that the team needed time to settle down, they decided to make way at the start of a new WTC cycle,” the source added.
Over the past week, Kohli is believed to have personally reached out to a few senior players and teammates, both past and present, to inform them of his decision.
His retirement serves as a reminder that stepping away from the game, like resigning from any role, is a voluntary act. While athletes are sometimes encouraged to reconsider or delay such decisions, Kohli had clearly made up his mind. Once he mentally crossed that line, there was no turning back.
(Sportstar inputs)