 "Virat Kohli had scored his 30th and final Test century in Perth during the five-Test series against Australia. Image: AP")
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, joining fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma is bidding the five-day format goodbye over a month before India’s marquee five-Test series in England. Kohli retires from Test cricket with 9,230 runs to his name at an average of 46.85, collecting 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries along the way.
Kohli had made his Test debut in Kingston, Jamaica during India’s tour of West Indies in the summer of 2011, right after helping the Men in Blue win the ICC World Cup on home soil, scoring 4 and 15 in his maiden appearance. It was his fighting knock of 116 at Adelaide during India’s forgettable tour of Australia in 2011-12, however, that would put him on the Test map.
Two years later, once again during the tour of Australia, Kohli would not only finish as India’s standout batter and announce himself as one of the world’s best across formats, he would also succeed MS Dhoni as Test leader midway during what was a drama-filled tour Down Under.
“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 in a post on Instagram on Monday.
“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.
“As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for,” he added in the post.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsKohli thus finishes as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in the format – and highest among Indian batters with less than 10,000 Test runs. He also signs off with 30 centuries to his name, once again the fourth-highest among Indian batters.
Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar are the only Indian batters who have scored more runs and collected more centuries than him in the format.
He also signs of as India’s most successful captain in Test cricket and one of the most successful of all time – having led India to 40 wins in 68 matches, with 17 losses and 11 draws. Only South Africa’s Graeme Smith (53 wins out of 109 Tests) as well as Australia’s Ricky Ponting (48 wins in 77 Tests) and Steve Waugh (41 wins in 57 Tests) have won more Tests as captain than him.
Kohli’s Test journey ends with 30th ton followed by lean patch in Australia
Kohli has scored the last of his 30 Test centuries in Perth in November during India’s recent tour of Australia. He remained unbeaten on 100 while Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed 161 as India defeated Australia by 295 runs to go 1-0 up in the series.
Kohli, as well as India skipper Rohit, however, would struggle with the bat in the remainder of the series as the visiting team’s fortuntes quickly deteriorated after the Perth victory. The batting superstar would find himself repeatedly falling for the off-side trap in the remainder of the series , particularly deliveries bowled along the fourth or the fifth stump.
Kohli collected just 90 more runs in the next four Tests while Rohit signed off with 31 runs in three Tests at an average of 6.20, casting doubts over their future in Test cricket.
Rohit was reportedly told by the BCCI that he had no future in the format, Kohli was requested to continue representing India in the red-ball format for some more time. The latter, however, decided against continuing any further, bringing the curtains down on what certainly will be remembered as a glorious chapter in Indian cricket.
“I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way.
“I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” he added.