Virat Kohli, one of Indian cricket’s most iconic figures, has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing an era of passion, dominance, and transformation in red-ball cricket to a close. The 36-year-old not only changed the way India played the longest format, but also redefined what it meant to lead the country in whites.
Captain Kohli: India’s greatest in Test history
Kohli’s leadership in Tests is widely regarded as the most impactful in Indian cricket history. Taking charge in 2014, Kohli led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them — the most by any Indian captain — at a win percentage of 58.82%. Under his watch, India:
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Won a historic Test series in Australia (2018–19) — a first for India
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Registered memorable Test wins in England and South Africa
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Held the No. 1 ICC Test ranking for 42 consecutive months
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Built a pace-dominant, ultra-fit, and aggressive Test team
Kohli stepped down as Test captain in 2022. While Rohit Sharma showed promise as a red-ball leader with 12 wins in 24 Tests (50% win rate), he too retired this week — leaving Kohli’s benchmark near untouchable for future leaders.
Kohli the batsman: rewriting record books
Kohli’s Test batting numbers speak for themselves:
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123 Tests
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9,230 runs
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Average: 49.29
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30 centuries, 29 fifties
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7 double centuries — most by an Indian batter in Tests
His last double ton (254*) came against South Africa in 2019 in Pune. He broke the record held by legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag for most double centuries in Tests for India.
Historic milestones:
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Only batter to score four double-centuries in four consecutive series — surpassing Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid
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Most Test centuries as Indian captain: 20 (next best is Sunil Gavaskar with 11)
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Most Test runs as Indian captain: 5,864 runs in 68 matches
(MS Dhoni follows with 3,454, Gavaskar with 3,449)
Kohli’s success wasn’t just in home conditions — his centuries came across SENA nations, making him one of India’s best all-condition Test players.
Legacy beyond numbers
More than records, it was Kohli’s hunger, intensity, and relentless drive that inspired a generation. He made Test cricket “cool” again, demanding peak fitness, playing with emotion, and never backing down — whether at Lord’s, MCG, or Eden Gardens.
As India now looks to build a new red-ball era, Kohli’s standards — as both a batter and leader — will remain the benchmark. His retirement is not just the end of a career, but the closure of a defining chapter in Indian cricket.
