Virat Kohli shocked everyone when he announced his Test retirement on May 12. This brought down the curtains on a 14-year career that began in 2011 against the West Indies in Jamaica and ended in Sydney against Australia in 2025.
Kohli made 9230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 48.65 with 30 centuries and 31 fifties to his name. His highest score was 254* against South Africa. Kohli also captained India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them and becoming India’s most successful Test captain ever.
He calmed down a lot since his early days, after marrying Bollywood superstar Anushka Sharma in 2017. They have 2 kids together and having Anushka by his side and turning to spiritualism has grounded the once fiery cricketer, who showed middle finger to crowd in Australia, who were booing him.
The Bollywood actress shared a lovely Instagram story written by writer Vaun Grover, detailing the factors that contributed to her husband's success in the longest and maybe most difficult version of cricket, Test cricket, just a few days after Kohli announced his decision to retire.
"That's why only those with a story to tell succeed in Test cricket. A story so long and deep that it doesn't care for the pitch conditions - grass, dry, home, or away," Anushka's story read.
Varun Grover had posted a tribute to Virat Kohli after his retirement announcement that had multiple pages of heartfelt messages.
“Thank you @virat.kohli. You brought the precision of a surgeon and the passion of a stage performer to this game “of inches, played in yards” (@bhogle_harsha’s quote.) You will be missed on the grounds,” Grover stated.
Kohli will only play in ODIs now, having already retired from T20 Internationals last year.
