Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his intention to retire from Test cricket, marking the end of a storied 14-year career in the format, according to multiple sources.

The 36-year-old batting maestro has amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. This decision follows former captain Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement announcement on May 7, 2025, signaling a major transition for Indian cricket.

"I am walking away with a heart full of gratitude...Will always look back at my Test career with a smile. It's not easy but it feels right," said Kohli in a statement today.

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Kohli’s retirement plans, deliberated for weeks, stem from a lean run in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he scored 190 runs in five Tests, with a sole century in Perth. His struggles against deliveries outside off-stump drew scrutiny, with his Test average dipping to 32.56 over the past two years.

Despite a BCCI official urging him to reconsider due to the critical England tour, Kohli has decided to step down, aiming to focus on ODI cricket and the IPL, where he recently scored 505 runs in 11 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025.

Kohli, who retired from T20Is after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win, leaves a legacy as India’s most successful Test captain, with 40 wins in 68 matches. Indian cricket braces for a new era under potential captain Shubman Gill.

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