269, Signing Off: Virat Kohli Announces Retirement from Test Cricket

MUMBAI: Former Indian captain Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement with immediate effect on Monday, ahead of the national side’s scheduled five-match tour to England in June. The decision comes after Rohit Sharma made a surprising announcement to call time on his career in the longest format of the game last week.

“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. Kohli ended the post with “#269, signing off.”

The 36-year-old Kohli brings down the curtains on a prolific red-ball career, spanning 14 years and 123 Tests. The Delhi batter made his Test debut against the West Indies on June 20, 2011, in Kingston. Having made his debut against the West Indies in 2011, Kohli cemented his place in the Test setup later in that year during the tour of Australia.

While other batters struggled as India failed to pick up the pace, Kohli improved each game and signed off with a brilliant 116, his first-ever Test hundred in Adelaide. Kohli subsequently captained India in the red-ball format, securing 40 wins from his 68 Tests, making him the most successful Indian men’s captain in Tests in terms of wins.

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