Virat Kohli shocked fans by announcing his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025. He shared an emotional note on Instagram, which quickly went viral. Many were surprised by his decision, especially since Team India is about to begin a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
Kohli’s former Ranji coach, Sarandeep Singh, was taken aback. He said Kohli was aiming to score more centuries in India’s upcoming five-match Test series against England. Some reports suggested that Kohli stepped down by choice, but the real reason remains unclear.
Ravi Shastri Speaks Out
Former India coach Ravi Shastri spoke about Kohli’s retirement and said it could have been handled better. He criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for poor communication and said that if it were up to him, he would have made Kohli the captain again after the 2024-2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“I feel sad about how it happened—so suddenly. It should have been managed better. If I had a say, I’d have made him captain right after the Australia series,” said Shastri.
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He also praised Kohli, calling him a legendary player and a true ambassador of Test cricket, especially on overseas tours. “People will only realize how great he was after he’s gone. His passion, his leadership at Lord’s, and how the team performed under him—it was something special. I’m lucky I was part of that journey,” Shastri added during an interaction with Sony Sports.
Kohli’s Test Career Highlights
Virat Kohli started his Test career in 2011 against West Indies. Over the years, he played 123 matches and batted in 210 innings, scoring a total of 9,230 runs. His highest score was 254 not out. He hit 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, making him the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in Test cricket.
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Kohli scored the most runs against Australia—2,232 in total. His best year in Test cricket was 2018, when he scored 1,322 runs in a single year.
