May 12, 2025 will be remembered as a special and emotional day for cricket fans, especially in India. Virat Kohli, one of the greatest players of the modern era, has announced his retirement from Test cricket — the format he loved the most. As fans, we always knew this day would come, but it still feels hard to accept. Kohli’s journey in Test cricket has been full of passion, determination, and unforgettable moments. He didn’t just score runs — he inspired a generation with his energy, his leadership, and his love for the game. With his retirement, a big chapter in Indian cricket comes to an end, and his absence will surely be felt on the field.
It was a truly special experience as a cricket fan to watch Virat Kohli bring Test cricket to life. Whether it was with his bat, his fearless captaincy, or his raw aggression and passion, Virat had a way of lighting up the field and drawing people in — especially the younger generation. In a time when Test cricket was struggling to hold attention, he brought back the spark, the emotion, and the pride of playing in whites.
While Virat quickly made a name for himself in limited-overs cricket, his journey in red-ball cricket took a bit more time. But it was clear he belonged on the biggest stage after two standout performances in Australia — a gritty 75 on a bouncy Perth pitch, followed by a memorable century in Adelaide in 2012. Even though India suffered a 4-0 series defeat, Virat was one of the few bright spots, showing the fight and fire that would go on to define his Test career.
When the great Sachin Tendulkar retired on 15th November 2013, the entire cricket world looked towards one man to carry the legacy forward — Virat Kohli. Taking over the iconic number 4 spot in the Indian Test lineup was no small task. It came with enormous pressure and expectations, but Virat was ready. He didn’t let the weight of the moment hold him back, and he made sure that the void left by Sachin didn’t grow deeper.
His first Test at number 4 came against South Africa in Johannesburg, and he rose to the occasion in style. A brilliant century in the first innings, followed by a solid 96 in the second, made it clear that Indian cricket had found its next pillar. It was the moment the young prodigy began to take giant strides, stepping confidently into the shoes of a legend.
This was just the beginning of what was to come. In 2014, with MS Dhoni not playing the first Test against Australia in Adelaide, Virat Kohli was handed the captaincy for the very first time. Wearing the blue blazer at the toss, it marked the start of a new chapter. What followed was nothing short of remarkable — twin centuries in the same Test match, the second one coming in the fourth innings while chasing a massive target of over 400 against a strong Australian bowling attack. India may have lost the game, but the world witnessed the rise of a fearless leader — someone who was ready to fight till the end, no matter the odds.
Soon after, MS Dhoni announced his retirement from Test cricket following the MCG Test, and the captaincy baton officially passed to Virat. Over the next 7–8 years, Virat led Indian Test cricket with unmatched intensity and passion. As a captain and a batter, he took Indian cricket to new heights, building a team that competed fiercely in every corner of the world and brought a sense of pride back to the longest format.
Test cricket is one of the toughest formats to dominate, and even for someone like Virat Kohli, there were challenging phases. One of the lowest points came during the 2014 tour of England, where he managed just 134 runs in 10 innings — a series that raised serious questions about his technique and temperament in tough conditions. But what set Virat apart was his hunger to improve and his determination to bounce back. And bounce back he did — in the 2018 England tour, he turned it around in style, scoring runs with ease and proving his class once again.
His captaincy journey followed a similar path — filled with challenges but defined by resilience and vision. One of his biggest contributions as a skipper was the development of India’s fast bowling unit — a lethal pace quartet that could win matches anywhere in the world. Under his leadership, India played 68 Tests and won 40 of them, a remarkable achievement that places him among the most successful Test captains in history, with only three others having won more games than him.
Virat’s journey in red-ball cricket was never as smooth as his dominance in the ODI format, where he continues to shine even today. His Test career had its share of highs and lows, but what truly defined him wasn’t just his technique — it was his unshakable willpower, mental toughness, and the courage to face every challenge head-on. In recent years, though, his form with the bat took a noticeable dip, and perhaps that played a part in his decision to step away from the format he loved so deeply.
His golden phase in Test cricket came between 2016 and 2018 — a period where he was simply unstoppable. In those three years, Virat scored 3,596 runs in just 35 Tests at a staggering average of 66.59, with 14 centuries and 8 fifties. Within just 16 months, he smashed six double hundreds — a feat few batters in the history of the game have matched. His legacy as a Test batter is etched in numbers, but his greater contribution was intangible — it was the passion, the raw energy, the fire in his eyes, and the aggression that made Test cricket exciting again. He brought the crowds back, made youngsters believe in the red-ball game, and led by example with unmatched intensity.
Yes, his average dropped from 54 to 46.85. Yes, he didn’t reach the 10,000-run milestone in Tests. And yes, he fell short of lifting the World Test Championship mace. But every sportsperson has a few unfinished dreams — that’s part of the journey. What matters more is the impact they leave behind, and Virat’s impact on Indian Test cricket is monumental.
As he walks away from the longest format, he leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered not just for the runs or the records, but for the spirit he brought to the game. And every time we think of Virat Kohli in whites — with that fiery look, that celebratory roar, and that unbeatable mindset — it will always bring a smile to our faces.
Thank you, Virat. Test cricket won’t be the same without you.
