Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket, Marks End of an Era
As the tension around Virat Kohli’s “decision to retire” from Test cricket increases, more information and surprises are revealed every day. Fans of Kohli were devastated to learn on Saturday morning that he had told the BCCI of his decision to retire from Test cricket. In order to prevent the Indian team from being inexperienced when they travel to England for a five-Test series beginning on June 20, the BCCI reportedly begged Kohli to change his mind in a desperate attempt to save face. The only two certain picks for the series are Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, as Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin have already announced their retirements.
Furthermore, without Kohli, the series may be a significant boost for England and a setback to India as it begins a new cycle of the World Test Championship. And with good reason.
But according to a story in The Dainik Jagran, the reverse is true. It claims that Kohli was not even asked to change his mind. If anything, the decision-makers told Kohli quite simply that his poor form no longer merits a spot in India’s Test lineup. Kohli scored just 190 runs from five Tests in what ended up being his final Test series in Australia, averaging just over 23.
When he achieved his 30th Test century in Perth, which was his ninth Test ton against the Australians, 100 of those 190 runs actually came in a single innings. Furthermore, Kohli’s 93 runs from six innings at an average of 15.50 in the last series against New Zealand was an even worse total.
Kohli’s performance during the 2024-25 Test season
During the 2024–25 Test season, Kohli struggled and was unable to establish himself in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series.
Despite hitting a century in the opening Test, he was only able to amass 186 runs in five Test matches.
His decision to withdraw from Test cricket has been attributed in part to this dismal run of form.
Most wins as Indian Test captain
As the most successful Indian captain, Kohli led his team in 68 Test matches. As captain, he has 40 victories, 17 losses, and 11 draws.
He has a 58.82 victory percentage. As captain of the Indian team, Kohli amassed 5,864 runs.
He had 18 fifties, 20 tons, and an average of 54.80. His tenure was 2014–2022.
He then handed the reigns over to Rohit Sharma.
Kohli’s heartfelt post on Instagram
Virat Kohli Test Cricket Stats: Brief Overview
Matches and Innings
- Matches played: 113–123 (latest available data varies slightly by source, but as of October 2024, Kohli has played 113 Tests, with some sources noting up to 123).
- Innings batted: Over 190
Runs and Batting Milestones
- Total runs: Over 9,000 (crossed 9,000 Test runs in October 2024).
- Average: Approximately 49–53 (varies slightly by source and recent form).
- Highest score: 254* (not out).
- Centuries (100s): 29.
- Half-centuries (50s): 30+ (exact number varies with latest matches).
- Double centuries: 7 (most by an Indian captain).
- Strike rate: Around 55.58.
Notable Records and Achievements
- Fastest Indian to 9,000 Test runs (197 innings, October 2024).
- First Indian and Asian captain to win a Test series in Australia.
- Holds the record for most double centuries as an Indian captain (7).
- Third Indian to surpass 9,000 Test runs after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
- Became the first batsman to score three hundreds in his first three innings as Test captain.
- Highest run-scorer by an Indian in a three-match Test series (610 runs vs Sri Lanka, 2017).
Year-wise and Series Highlights
- 2014–2018: Consistently among the world’s top Test batsmen, including a prolific 2018 tour of England (593 runs, third-highest by an Indian in a losing series).
- 2016–2017: Scored multiple double centuries and led India to a record streak of nine consecutive Test series wins.
- 2023: Ended a three-year century drought with a 186 in Ahmedabad vs Australia; scored his 29th Test century in his 500th international match.
Fielding and Leadership
- Catches: Over 100 in Tests.
- Captained India in 68 Tests, with a win percentage of over 58%, making him India’s most successful Test captain.
Summary Table
| Stat | Value |
|---|
| Matches | 113–123 |
| Innings | 190+ |
| Runs | 9,000+ |
| Average | ~49–53 |
| Highest Score | 254* |
| Centuries (100s) | 29 |
| Half-centuries (50s) | 30+ |
| Double Centuries | 7 |
| Catches | 100+ |
| Captaincy Wins | 40+ |
Key Career Highlights
- Kohli’s Test career is marked by consistency, adaptability across conditions, and a penchant for big scores, especially as captain.
- He has excelled in Australia, England, South Africa, and at home, often leading from the front during challenging series.
- Kohli’s aggressive style and fitness have set new benchmarks for Indian cricket, both as a batsman and as a leader.
For the most up-to-date and granular stats (such as year-wise breakdowns or series-specific numbers), refer to detailed cricket databases like ESPNcricinfo.
Get Latest News Live on Storify News along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, Trump News, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, Kamala Harris, Entertainment, Technology and around the world.
The post Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket, Marks End of an Era first appeared on Storify News.
News