One of India’s most prolific cricketers, Virat Kohli, announced his Test retirement on Monday with immediate effect. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,” Kohli wrote on his Instagram handle, informing about his decision.
The 36-year-old Kohli brings down the curtains on a prolific red-ball career, spanning 14 years and 123 Tests.
Having made his Test debut against the West Indies on June 20, 2011, in Kingston, Kohli ended his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 Tests, averaging 46.85 with 30 centuries. He was also India’s most successful batter in the previous decade between 2010 and 2019. Kohli was the third-highest Test run-getter in the period, piling on 7202 runs at 54.97 average and 27 centuries, the most by any batter in the time.
Since his Test retirement announcement, reactions from the cricketing and the whole sporting fraternity have been pouring in. Here are some of the reactions:
Congrats to my biscotti on an epic Test career! Your determination & skill have always inspired me. True legend! ❤️🙌🏻
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17)
Whites off, crown intact 👑
bids goodbye to Test cricket, leaving behind an unmatched legacy 👏
✍️:
— ICC (@ICC)
All the best on your Test retirement While the world celebrates your cricketing brilliance and records, what I admire most is your unwavering commitment to fitness and the sacrifices you’ve made behind the scenes
— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07)
I would have liked to see go out of test cricket before a packed stadium. But since that is not to be let us applaud him wherever we are. He told a generation weaned on T20 cricket that test cricket is cool and aspirational. And for that, the game owes him big time.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Numbers will not define Kohli’s Test legacy. They’re just a small fraction of what he did in/for the format.
Virat, you made a whole generation fall in love with Test cricket again. Thank You for your contribution.
Test Cricket will be poorer in your absence. 🙌
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Virat?!?! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24)
Unmatched passion, unmatched energy, and a fight that was awe-inspiring. Test cricket had a heartbeat, and it was you, .
From my debut to series wins and double hundreds, the memories created on the field will always be special. And the conversations and the time spent…
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket)
Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli. 🙏🙏🙏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar)
