 "Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: 'Whites off, crown intact', Ex-cricketers, experts pay tribute on social media")
Virat Kohli brought his 14-year journey as a Test cricket to an end on Monday by announcing his retirement from the format . Kohli, who is India’s most successful Test captain ever with 40 wins in 68 matches, thus signs off with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 , collecting 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries along the way.
Kohli’s announcement comes less than a week after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format. Both stalwarts have quit the Test format more than a month before the marquee five-Test series between India and England on the latter’s home turf.
And since both icons had retired from Twenty20 Internationals last year, they will be channeling their energies on the One-Day International format going forward, possibly aiming to help India win the ICC World Cup in 2027.
Kohli’s Test retirement leads to an outpouring of tributes
Here are some of the reactions to Kohli’s Test retirement on social media:
Congrats to my biscotti @imVkohli on an epic Test career! Your determination & skill have always inspired me. True legend! ❤️🙌🏻 #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/2DnNLRzSrI
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 12, 2025
Congratulations @imVkohli on a stellar Test career. Thank you for championing the purest format during the rise of T20 cricket and setting an extraordinary example in discipline, fitness, and commitment. Your speech at the Lord’s said it all - you played Tests with heart, grit,… pic.twitter.com/sYBhJ5HhJI
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) May 12, 2025
Impact Shorts
More ShortsI feel he at least had 3 more years in him, but his decision should be respected. Test cricket was never boring with Virat in. His presence alone brought millions of eyeballs. Once in a generation player. You will be missed @imVkohli Congratulations on a successful career 👏🏻👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/tOdzaz2wej
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 12, 2025
The Greatest Indian Cricketer of all times bids adieu to Test cricket 🏏…. Thank you Virat Kohli for being a cup of joy to world cricket - kahaan parre ho chakker mein koi nahin hai takker mein … @imVkohli @RCBTweets @BCCI pic.twitter.com/9cQ3KTI8yx
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) May 12, 2025
Your passion & leadership in Test cricket have inspired millions, brother! Love and respect bro @imVkohli
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) May 12, 2025
Sad to see you step away, but your legacy will live on. 🙌 #Legend #thankyouvirat pic.twitter.com/6Ce9Z0wnPj
Whites off, crown intact 👑
— ICC (@ICC) May 12, 2025
Virat Kohli bids goodbye to Test cricket, leaving behind an unmatched legacy 👏
✍️: https://t.co/VjuXwUrl8P pic.twitter.com/6apbXkubQ0
Congratulations on a phenomenal Test career, Virat Kohli.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 12, 2025
As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets.
You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard.
A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket.#ThankYouVirat pic.twitter.com/rvFAulcMSQ
Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli. 🙏🙏🙏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 12, 2025
Numbers will not define Kohli’s Test legacy. They’re just a small fraction of what he did in/for the format.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 12, 2025
Virat, you made a whole generation fall in love with Test cricket again. Thank You for your contribution.
Test Cricket will be poorer in your absence. 🙌
A man with lion’s passion!
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 12, 2025
Will miss u cheeks…. pic.twitter.com/uNGW7Y8Ak6
Can’t believe you are done. You are a modern-day GIANT and were a fantastic ambassador for Test match cricket in every way you played and captained. Thank you for the lasting memories you’ve given to everyone, and to me in particular. It’s something I will cherish for life. Go… pic.twitter.com/1te6LFGdMx
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) May 12, 2025
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