Virat Kohli on Saturday (January 15) stepped down as India’s Test captain. His decision comes a day after the Indian team lost the Test series against South Africa.

Taking to Twitter, Kohli made the big announcement. He had taken charge of the Test team during the 2014 tour of Australia.

"It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Every thing has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it's now," Kohli said in a statement.

"There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it’s not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team.

"I want to thank the BCCI for giving me the opportunity to lead my country for such a long period of time and more importantly to all my teammates who bought into the vision I had for my team from day one and never gave up in any situation. You guys have made this journey so memorable and beautiful."

"To Ravi bhai and the support group who were the engine behind this vehicle that moved us upwards in Test cricket constantly, you all have played a massive role in bringing this vision to life. Lastly, a big thank you to MS Dhoni who believed in me as Captain and found me to an able individual who could take Indian Cricket forward."

Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, Team India tasted huge success over the years. He led India in 68 Tests, registering 40 wins, including the series victories in Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

After the World T20 World Cup 2021 in November, Kohli had stepped down as T20I captain while he was sacked as ODI skipper ahead of the ongoing South Africa tour.