<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Former India Test team captain Anil Kumble has put weight behind Karun Nair to succeed Virat Kohli at No.4 after the veteran batter announced retirement from the format on Monday (May 12). Virat, dropping curtains on a 14-year Test career, will leave a big hole in the middle order ahead of the England tour, which begins on June 20. However, according to Kumble, Nair is the perfect replacement for Virat in the red-ball format. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Kumble backs Nair</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">"Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. So perhaps he could be the No.4 for India because I feel you need a bit of experience. You need someone in England who has been there and done that. He has played County cricket, so he knows the conditions,&rdquo; Kumble said on Wednesday. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Nair was in great form during the Indian domestic season in 2024 and paved his way back into the conversation for a place in the national team. There were muted conversations for Nair to be included in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy after he scored 779 runs in seven innings that included five hundreds. This was also the most hundreds scored by any player in a single season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ipl-2025-bcci-scrambles-to-get-foreign-players-as-ipl-sets-for-resumption-who-will-return-and-who-wont-deets-inside-9065463" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won&rsquo;t? Deets inside</a></strong><br></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">However, despite the stellar run, he was not included in the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Now there are conversations of him being on the plane for the England tour to represent India A. On the other hand, Kumble&rsquo;s words have given weight to the conversation to include him in the main 15-man squad for the England tour, starting on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Nair&rsquo;s last Test match for India came in March 2017 as India beat Australia by eight wickets in Dharamsala. He is also one of two players to score a triple hundred for India in Test format.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

Virat Kohli, dropping curtains on a 14-year Test career, will leave a big hole in the middle order ahead of the England tour, which begins on June 20. India News | Cricket | Sports

Former India Test team captain Anil Kumble has put weight behind Karun Nair to succeed Virat Kohli at No.4 after the veteran batter announced retirement from the format on Monday (May 12). Virat, dropping curtains on a 14-year Test career, will leave a big hole in the middle order ahead of the England tour, which begins on June 20. However, according to Kumble, Nair is the perfect replacement for Virat in the red-ball format. Kumble backs Nair "Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. So perhaps he could be the No.4 for India because I feel you need a bit of experience. You need someone in England who has been there and done that. He has played County cricket, so he knows the conditions,” Kumble said on Wednesday. Nair was in great form during the Indian domestic season in 2024 and paved his way back into the conversation for a place in the national team. There were muted conversations for Nair to be included in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy after he scored 779 runs in seven innings that included five hundreds. This was also the most hundreds scored by any player in a single season of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won’t? Deets inside However, despite the stellar run, he was not included in the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. Now there are conversations of him being on the plane for the England tour to represent India A. On the other hand, Kumble’s words have given weight to the conversation to include him in the main 15-man squad for the England tour, starting on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. Nair’s last Test match for India came in March 2017 as India beat Australia by eight wickets in Dharamsala. He is also one of two players to score a triple hundred for India in Test format.

India tour of England 2025: Anil Kumble backs THIS player to succeed Virat Kohli at No.4 in Tests

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Virat Kohli&rsquo;s Test retirement has brought a wave of shock for his fans after the announcement was made public on Monday (May 12). The former India captain called time on his 14-year Test career on Monday and will no longer be active in red-ball cricket. After the announcement, a fan was spotted at the Airport confronting Virat over his Test retirement.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at Mumbai Airport ✈️<br><br>- Paps to Virat : Virat sir why did you take retirement? We will not see cricket any more! 💔 <a href="https://t.co/rXY8k4iqN4">pic.twitter.com/rXY8k4iqN4</a></p>
&mdash; Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) <a href="https://twitter.com/Trend_VKohli/status/1922254152731591146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><strong>Fan confronts Virat</strong><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">On Tuesday, the former India captain was spotted in Vrindavan with his wife Anushka as they sought the blessings of Swami Premanand Maharaj. While the visit made headlines, hours later, on their way home, both Virat and Anushka were at the airport when a fan, also a camera person, took the opportunity to praise Virat but confronted him for abruptly taking Test retirement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The fan was quoted as saying, &ldquo;Virat sir, why did you take retirement? We will not see cricket anymore!&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">While Virat gave a smile, he did not react and was seen approaching his car thereafter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">On Tuesday, in a video surfacing on social media, a white SUV was seen taking both Virat and Anushka to Swami Premanand Maharaj&rsquo;s ashram. The couple is followers of Swami Premanand Maharaj, as their last visit to the site also made headlines in January.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ipl-2025-bcci-scrambles-to-get-foreign-players-as-ipl-sets-for-resumption-who-will-return-and-who-wont-deets-inside-9065463" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won&rsquo;t? Deets inside</a></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The visit came a day after Virat called time on his 14-year Test career, playing a key role in the nation&rsquo;s rise in the red-ball format. His retirement came as a big surprise for many despite calls for him to play in the upcoming England tour.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">The 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India&rsquo;s fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).</span><span lang="EN-IN"> </span><span lang="EN-IN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>

The former India captain, Virat Kohli called time on his 14-year illustrious Test career on Monday and will no longer be active in red-ball cricket. Trending | Sports

Virat Kohli’s Test retirement has brought a wave of shock for his fans after the announcement was made public on Monday (May 12). The former India captain called time on his 14-year Test career on Monday and will no longer be active in red-ball cricket. After the announcement, a fan was spotted at the Airport confronting Virat over his Test retirement. Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at Mumbai Airport ✈️ - Paps to Virat : Virat sir why did you take retirement? We will not see cricket any more! 💔 pic.twitter.com/rXY8k4iqN4 — Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) May 13, 2025 Fan confronts Virat On Tuesday, the former India captain was spotted in Vrindavan with his wife Anushka as they sought the blessings of Swami Premanand Maharaj. While the visit made headlines, hours later, on their way home, both Virat and Anushka were at the airport when a fan, also a camera person, took the opportunity to praise Virat but confronted him for abruptly taking Test retirement. The fan was quoted as saying, “Virat sir, why did you take retirement? We will not see cricket anymore!” While Virat gave a smile, he did not react and was seen approaching his car thereafter. On Tuesday, in a video surfacing on social media, a white SUV was seen taking both Virat and Anushka to Swami Premanand Maharaj’s ashram. The couple is followers of Swami Premanand Maharaj, as their last visit to the site also made headlines in January. ALSO READ | IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won’t? Deets inside The visit came a day after Virat called time on his 14-year Test career, playing a key role in the nation’s rise in the red-ball format. His retirement came as a big surprise for many despite calls for him to play in the upcoming England tour. The 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India’s fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).

Watch: Fan confronts Virat Kohli at Airport after Test retirement, says 'why did you...'

<p>Veteran seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mohammed-shami">Mohammed Shami</a> unleashed a fierce attack after several reports indicated that his inclusion in India's forthcoming tour of England hinges on his ability to bowl steady spells, and a few even suggested his near-future retirement.</p>
<p>Shami hasn't bowled for India in the whites since the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023, where Australia won by 209 runs. A long injury layoff kept Shami out of action after the 2023 ODI World Cup.</p>
<p>He even came back to the domestic circuit and played in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a> for West Bengal. With his experience, Shami had a bountiful outing and came back with seven wickets against Madhya Pradesh in 2024. Rumour mill talked about his comeback during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia; yet, the series passed, and there was no indication of him.</p>
<h2>Shami fires back</h2>
<p>The 34-year-old has bowled the new ball for India across formats in 2025, representing the nation in the title-winning Champions Trophy campaign and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 18th edition of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</a>.</p>
<p>Regardless of his increased frequency of appearance, reports suggested that Shami's contribution for England would be contingent on his ability to deal with the requirements of the format, starting from June 20. Reports hinted otherwise towards Shami going through the same route towards Test retirement like Rohit Sharma and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>.</p>
<p>Shami broke the silence and responded strongly to the claim. He posted a screenshot of the article on Instagram with a seething message, "Very well done. Also, start counting the days left to say 'adieu' to your job, then see ours later. People like you have ruined our future. Try saying nice things sometimes, too. Today's worst story, sorry."</p>
<p>Shami has played 64 Tests for India and taken 229 wickets at an average of 27.1, with six five-wicket hauls.</p>

India News, Sports: Shami hasn't bowled for India in the whites since the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023, where Australia won by 209 runs

Veteran seamer Mohammed Shami unleashed a fierce attack after several reports indicated that his inclusion in India's forthcoming tour of England hinges on his ability to bowl steady spells, and a few even suggested his near-future retirement. Shami hasn't bowled for India in the whites since the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023, where Australia won by 209 runs. A long injury layoff kept Shami out of action after the 2023 ODI World Cup. He even came back to the domestic circuit and played in the Ranji Trophy for West Bengal. With his experience, Shami had a bountiful outing and came back with seven wickets against Madhya Pradesh in 2024. Rumour mill talked about his comeback during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia; yet, the series passed, and there was no indication of him. Shami fires back The 34-year-old has bowled the new ball for India across formats in 2025, representing the nation in the title-winning Champions Trophy campaign and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League. Regardless of his increased frequency of appearance, reports suggested that Shami's contribution for England would be contingent on his ability to deal with the requirements of the format, starting from June 20. Reports hinted otherwise towards Shami going through the same route towards Test retirement like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Shami broke the silence and responded strongly to the claim. He posted a screenshot of the article on Instagram with a seething message, "Very well done. Also, start counting the days left to say 'adieu' to your job, then see ours later. People like you have ruined our future. Try saying nice things sometimes, too. Today's worst story, sorry." Shami has played 64 Tests for India and taken 229 wickets at an average of 27.1, with six five-wicket hauls.

India pacer Mohammed Shami fires back at retirement reports with one BOLD sentence

<p>Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin says that the upcoming Test tour of England will truly mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir era as India head coach. The comments come after retirement announcements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket in a span of six days.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"I didn't have an idea both [Rohit and Kohli] would retire together," Ashwin said on his Youtube show 'Ash Ki Baat'. "This will a testing time for Indian cricket, and I'll say this is truly now the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era.</p>
<p>"The team that will tour England will be a completely new team, a transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player. He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read</strong> - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-retirement-no-one-has-a-secured-spot-says-pujara-about-indias-new-number-4-in-tests-9063695">Virat Kohli Retirement | 'No one has a secured spot,' says Pujara about India's new number 4 in Tests</a></p>
<p>"Their retirements will definitely create a leadership vacuum. You can't buy experience, especially on tours like this. Virat's energy and Rohit's composure will be missed," he added.</p>
<p>While Rohit announced his retirement on May 7, Kohli decided to hang up his boots in white on Monday (May 12). Both the players played last on Test tour of Australia which India lost 1-3.</p>
<p>Rohit scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57 with 12 hundreds and 18 fifties. Rohit led India in 24 Tests and won 12 of them and nine 9 losses to go with three draws.</p>
<p>Kohli retired with 9,239 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties to his name in 123 Tests. Out of those runs, he scored 7,564 runs at number four in 99 Tests at an average of 50 with 26 tons.</p>
<p>Virat's runs at number 4 are second most by an Indian behind Sachin's 13,492 and fifth highest overall behind Sachin, Mahela Jayawardene (9,509), Jacques Kallis (9,033) and Joe Root (7,745).</p>
<p>He led India in 68 Tests and won 40 of them - the most of India and fourth highest overall behind Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh 941).</p>

While Rohit announced his retirement on May 7, Kohli decided to hang up his boots in white on Monday (May 12). Both the players played last on Test tour of Australia which India lost 1-3.

Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin says that the upcoming Test tour of England will truly mark the beginning of Gautam Gambhir era as India head coach. The comments come after retirement announcements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from Test cricket in a span of six days. "I didn't have an idea both [Rohit and Kohli] would retire together," Ashwin said on his Youtube show 'Ash Ki Baat'. "This will a testing time for Indian cricket, and I'll say this is truly now the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era. "The team that will tour England will be a completely new team, a transformed team where Bumrah will probably be the senior-most player. He is obviously one of the captaincy options; I think he deserves the captaincy, but the selectors will take a decision based on his physical capacity. Also Read - Virat Kohli Retirement | 'No one has a secured spot,' says Pujara about India's new number 4 in Tests "Their retirements will definitely create a leadership vacuum. You can't buy experience, especially on tours like this. Virat's energy and Rohit's composure will be missed," he added. While Rohit announced his retirement on May 7, Kohli decided to hang up his boots in white on Monday (May 12). Both the players played last on Test tour of Australia which India lost 1-3. Rohit scored 4,301 runs in 67 matches at an average of 40.57 with 12 hundreds and 18 fifties. Rohit led India in 24 Tests and won 12 of them and nine 9 losses to go with three draws. Kohli retired with 9,239 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties to his name in 123 Tests. Out of those runs, he scored 7,564 runs at number four in 99 Tests at an average of 50 with 26 tons. Virat's runs at number 4 are second most by an Indian behind Sachin's 13,492 and fifth highest overall behind Sachin, Mahela Jayawardene (9,509), Jacques Kallis (9,033) and Joe Root (7,745). He led India in 68 Tests and won 40 of them - the most of India and fourth highest overall behind Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh 941).

'Beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era,' says Ravi Ashwin after Rohit-Kohli's Test retirement

Here's a look at 6 bowlers to dismiss Virat Kohli most times in international cricket featuring Josh Hazlewood, Adil Rashid, Tim Southee, Moeen Ali and others. Sports | Photos

6 Bowlers to dismiss Virat Kohli most times in international cricket – one name will surprise you

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Star India cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma were spotted in North India&rsquo;s Vrindavan on Tuesday (May 13). The visit comes a day after Virat announced his retirement from the Test format and was accompanied by Anushka as they were later spotted at Swami Premanand Maharaj&rsquo;s ashram. This is not the first time Virat-Anushka have visited Vrindavan as they often visit the site, however, the latest visit is a special one as Virat nears the end of his cricketing career.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p lang="hi" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> and Anushka Sharma arrive at Uttar Pradesh's Vrindavan <a href="https://t.co/u6rI5EGLMn">pic.twitter.com/u6rI5EGLMn</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1922155244412109047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Virat-Anushka spotted in Vrindavan</strong></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In a video surfacing on social media, a white SUV is seen taking both Virat and Anushka to Swami Premanand Maharaj&rsquo;s ashram. The couple is followers of Swami Premanand Maharaj, as their last visit to the site also made headlines. At the time of writing, only Virat and Anushka were spotted on the visit. However, the last time they were at the ashram, their kids were also in the spotlight.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The visit comes a day after Virat called time on his 14-year Test career, playing a key role in the nation&rsquo;s rise in the red-ball format. His retirement came as a big surprise for many despite calls for him to play in the upcoming England tour.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-releases-ipl-2025-revised-schedule-tournament-to-restart-on-may-17-final-in-june-9062057" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June</a></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India&rsquo;s fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"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 said in a social media statement on Monday morning.</p>

Virat-Anushka's visit comes a day after he announced his retirement from the Test format as they were later spotted at Swami Premanand Maharaj’s ashram. Cricket | Sports | Entertainment

Star India cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma were spotted in North India’s Vrindavan on Tuesday (May 13). The visit comes a day after Virat announced his retirement from the Test format and was accompanied by Anushka as they were later spotted at Swami Premanand Maharaj’s ashram. This is not the first time Virat-Anushka have visited Vrindavan as they often visit the site, however, the latest visit is a special one as Virat nears the end of his cricketing career. #WATCH | #ViratKohli and Anushka Sharma arrive at Uttar Pradesh's Vrindavan pic.twitter.com/u6rI5EGLMn — ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2025 Virat-Anushka spotted in Vrindavan In a video surfacing on social media, a white SUV is seen taking both Virat and Anushka to Swami Premanand Maharaj’s ashram. The couple is followers of Swami Premanand Maharaj, as their last visit to the site also made headlines. At the time of writing, only Virat and Anushka were spotted on the visit. However, the last time they were at the ashram, their kids were also in the spotlight. The visit comes a day after Virat called time on his 14-year Test career, playing a key role in the nation’s rise in the red-ball format. His retirement came as a big surprise for many despite calls for him to play in the upcoming England tour. ALSO READ | BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June The 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India’s fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs). "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 said in a social media statement on Monday morning.

Watch: Virat-Anushka spotted in Vrindavan, day after star India batter's Test retirement

On Monday (May 12), it was the end of an era for Indian Test cricket as Virat Kohli called time on his impressive career. Playing 123 Test matches, Virat has hung up his boots with a proud record, hardly matched by anyone in the modern-day circuit. While he was a nightmare many times, including Australia and England, he never faced one opponent in the red-ball format, despite having an impressive showing in the white-ball format.

Virat Kohli bids farewell to Tests in an emotional Instagram post

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sachin-tendulkar" rel="dofollow">Sachin Tendulkar</a> could be a more successful Test cricketer, but <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9059470" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli</a>&rsquo;s influence on cultural and psychological impact on India&rsquo;s cricketing identity is larger, former Australia captain Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo. On Monday (May 9), Virat took to social media to announce his Test retirement, ending a glorious yet proud 14-year career in the whites.</p>
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<p>Chappell, who held the reins of the Australian cricket team in his time, feels Kohli has been the incandescent heart of Indian cricket, adding he did more than just score runs as he redefined expectations and further symbolised the unapologetic India of the 21st century.</p>
<p>&ldquo;It closes the chapter on the most transformative figure in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar; perhaps Kohli even eclipses him in terms of cultural influence and psychological impact on India&rsquo;s cricketing identity,&rdquo; Chappell wrote after Kohli decided to step aside from the Test format.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century,&rdquo; the former Australian captain added.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-tennis-virat-kohli-test-retirement-greatness-breaches-borders-as-tennis-great-novak-djokovic-congratulates-him-9061592" rel="dofollow">Kohli&rsquo;s greatness breaches borders as Tennis great Novak Djokovic congratulates him on Test retirement</a></strong></p>
<p>Kohli featured in 123 Tests and scored 9230 runs, averaging over 46. He loved playing against the mighty Aussies, against whom he scored nine Test centuries, including his maiden and final ones. While his first Test ton came at the Adelaide Oval in 2012, his last was at the Optus Stadium in Perth during India&rsquo;s last away tour of Australia in 2024/25.</p>
<p>Writing about Kohli&rsquo;s love affair with the Australians, Chappell said he was the most Australian non-Australian cricketer ever. Like those from Down Under, Kohli wore pride on his sleeves every time he took the field and was loudly confident about his game. &nbsp;</p>
<p>&ldquo;Virat Kohli is the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we&rsquo;ve ever seen,&rdquo; Chappell wrote. &ldquo;He was &ndash; a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself.&rdquo;</p>
<h2>How Kohli changed Indian Cricket</h2>
<p>Reflecting on the time when India struggled against most overseas teams on away tours, not because of the skill but because of the psychological inferiority, Chappell said the new reign of Indian captains changed that about their cricket, and Kohli had a role to play in that.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-save-your-tears-virat-kohli-cricketing-idol-sachin-tendulkar-pens-heartfelt-note-for-kohli-on-test-retirement-rishi-sunak-uk-pm-9060860" rel="dofollow">Save your tears! Virat&rsquo;s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement</a></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;There was a time when Indian cricket, particularly overseas, bore an air of respectful submission &ndash; playing with technical skill, yes, but often with psychological inferiority.</p>
<p>&ldquo;That changed in stages. Sourav Ganguly gave Indian cricket a new spine. MS Dhoni brought ice-cold leadership and white-ball dominance. But Kohli? Kohli lit the fire. He tore the script and authored a new one, where India was not just competitive abroad but expected to win,&rdquo; Chappell explained.&nbsp;</p>

On Monday (May 9), Virat Kohli took to social media to announce his Test retirement, ending a glorious yet proud 14-year career in the whites. Sports, Cricket

Sachin Tendulkar could be a more successful Test cricketer, but Virat Kohli’s influence on cultural and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity is larger, former Australia captain Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo. On Monday (May 9), Virat took to social media to announce his Test retirement, ending a glorious yet proud 14-year career in the whites. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) Chappell, who held the reins of the Australian cricket team in his time, feels Kohli has been the incandescent heart of Indian cricket, adding he did more than just score runs as he redefined expectations and further symbolised the unapologetic India of the 21st century. “It closes the chapter on the most transformative figure in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar; perhaps Kohli even eclipses him in terms of cultural influence and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity,” Chappell wrote after Kohli decided to step aside from the Test format. “Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century,” the former Australian captain added. Also read | Kohli’s greatness breaches borders as Tennis great Novak Djokovic congratulates him on Test retirement Kohli featured in 123 Tests and scored 9230 runs, averaging over 46. He loved playing against the mighty Aussies, against whom he scored nine Test centuries, including his maiden and final ones. While his first Test ton came at the Adelaide Oval in 2012, his last was at the Optus Stadium in Perth during India’s last away tour of Australia in 2024/25. Writing about Kohli’s love affair with the Australians, Chappell said he was the most Australian non-Australian cricketer ever. Like those from Down Under, Kohli wore pride on his sleeves every time he took the field and was loudly confident about his game. “Virat Kohli is the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we’ve ever seen,” Chappell wrote. “He was – a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself.” How Kohli changed Indian Cricket Reflecting on the time when India struggled against most overseas teams on away tours, not because of the skill but because of the psychological inferiority, Chappell said the new reign of Indian captains changed that about their cricket, and Kohli had a role to play in that. Also read | Save your tears! Virat’s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement “There was a time when Indian cricket, particularly overseas, bore an air of respectful submission – playing with technical skill, yes, but often with psychological inferiority. “That changed in stages. Sourav Ganguly gave Indian cricket a new spine. MS Dhoni brought ice-cold leadership and white-ball dominance. But Kohli? Kohli lit the fire. He tore the script and authored a new one, where India was not just competitive abroad but expected to win,” Chappell explained.

Virat Kohli even eclipses Sachin on cultural influence - Ian Chappell’s huge praise for Test giant

<p>India batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday (May 12) and with that he joined the long list of other Indian legends who played their last Test against Australia.</p>
<p>Below is the list of Indian played who played their last Test against Australia before retiring since 2000, just like Kohli&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Anil Kumble: Last Test in Delhi 2008</li>
<li>Sourav Ganguly: Last Test in Nagpur 2008</li>
<li>VVS Laxman: Last Test in Adelaide 2012</li>
<li>Rahul Dravid: Last Test Adelaide in 2012</li>
<li>Virender Sehwag: Last Test in Hyderabad 2013</li>
<li>MS Dhoni: Last Test in MCG 2014</li>
<li>Ravi Ashwin: Last Test in Adelaide 2024</li>
<li>Rohit Sharma: Last Test in MCG 2024</li>
</ul>
<p>On his last tour Down Under, Kohli started well with a century on a difficult pitch in Perth in the first Test but things didn't well for him afterwards. Since his 100 in Perth, Kohli could score only 90 more runs in eight innings as India lost the five-match series 1-3.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read -</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-retires-in-2014-virat-kohli-led-india-first-time-and-changed-the-indian-cricket-forever-9061119">Virat Kohli Retires: In 2014 Virat Kohli led India first time and changed the Indian cricket forever</a></p>
<p>There were reports doing rounds since last few days that Kohli has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about retiring from red-ball cricket. The board, however, tried to convince him to stay on for the upcoming tour of England but Kohli decided otherwise.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Kohli retired as one of the greats of the Test cricket not only for India but in world cricket. He was one of the four members of modern-day great batters nicknamed Fab Four - the other three are Joe Root (England), Steve Smith (Australia) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand).</p>
<p>During his career which spanned nearly 14 years from 2011 to 2025, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties. He was also the Indian skipper from 2014 to 2022 during which he won 40 of 68 matches he led in - the most by an Indian Test skipper.</p>

During his career which spanned nearly 14 years from 2011 to 2025, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties. He was also the Indian skipper from 2014 to 2022 during which he won 40 of 68 matches. Cricket Sports

India batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday (May 12) and with that he joined the long list of other Indian legends who played their last Test against Australia. Below is the list of Indian played who played their last Test against Australia before retiring since 2000, just like Kohli Anil Kumble: Last Test in Delhi 2008 Sourav Ganguly: Last Test in Nagpur 2008 VVS Laxman: Last Test in Adelaide 2012 Rahul Dravid: Last Test Adelaide in 2012 Virender Sehwag: Last Test in Hyderabad 2013 MS Dhoni: Last Test in MCG 2014 Ravi Ashwin: Last Test in Adelaide 2024 Rohit Sharma: Last Test in MCG 2024 On his last tour Down Under, Kohli started well with a century on a difficult pitch in Perth in the first Test but things didn't well for him afterwards. Since his 100 in Perth, Kohli could score only 90 more runs in eight innings as India lost the five-match series 1-3. Also Read - Virat Kohli Retires: In 2014 Virat Kohli led India first time and changed the Indian cricket forever There were reports doing rounds since last few days that Kohli has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about retiring from red-ball cricket. The board, however, tried to convince him to stay on for the upcoming tour of England but Kohli decided otherwise. Nonetheless, Kohli retired as one of the greats of the Test cricket not only for India but in world cricket. He was one of the four members of modern-day great batters nicknamed Fab Four - the other three are Joe Root (England), Steve Smith (Australia) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand). During his career which spanned nearly 14 years from 2011 to 2025, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties. He was also the Indian skipper from 2014 to 2022 during which he won 40 of 68 matches he led in - the most by an Indian Test skipper.

Virat Kohli joins long list of Indian legends announcing retirement after playing last Test against Australia. Check List

<p>As <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9059470" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket</a>, the entire cricketing fraternity paused and looked back at the incredible journey of one of India&rsquo;s greatest batters. While his entire Test career is nothing short of inspirational, the years 2016 to 2018 truly stand out as the peak of King Kohli in Test cricket.</p>
<p>Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies at Kingston Oval. His start was not great, scoring a mere 4 runs in the first innings, and he had to wait until 2012 to score his first century in whites, which came at the Adelaide Oval in Australia. Then, between 2012 and 2015, he was consistent and steady enough, but didn&rsquo;t manage to score 1000 Test runs in a calendar year.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/test-cricket-is-the-toughest-bcci-shares-heartful-video-after-virat-kohlis-retirement-cricket-sports-virat-kohli-test-retirement-9061341" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Test cricket is the toughest' - BCCI shares heartful video after Virat Kohli's retirement</a></strong></p>
<p>That scenario changed in 2016. From that year onwards, Kohli reached the peak level.</p>
<h2>The peak of Virat Kohli in Tests</h2>
<p>Between 2016 and 2018, he scored 3,596 runs in 35 Test matches. He averaged 66.59 during this period, with 14 centuries and 8 half-centuries in just 58 innings. One of the biggest highlights came during the 2018 tour of England, where he scored 593 runs in five Tests, a massive improvement from his 2014 performance in the same country, where he managed 153 runs in five games.</p>
<p>From a setback in 2014 to a comeback in 2018, Kohli conquered the England fortress. Interestingly, in the same year, India, under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, won the first-ever Test series against Australia, defeating the Kangaroos by 2-1 in Australia.</p>
<p>In 2019, his form started to dip, although he scored his highest-ever Test score of 254 in Pune against the Proteas that year.</p>
<p>Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85. He is fourth on the list of all-time highest run-scorers for India in Tests, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.</p>
<p>Even though he has retired from the format, Kohli&rsquo;s passion, discipline, and hunger for runs will be remembered forever. His performances, especially from 2016 to 2018, will always be seen as the golden period of his Test career.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Even though Virat Kohli has retired, he will be remembered forever for his love towards Test cricket.</p>

Between 2016 and 2018, Virat Kohli scored 3596 runs in 35 Test matches. He averaged 66.59 during this period, with 14 centuries and 8 half-centuries in just 58 innings. Sports Cricket

As Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, the entire cricketing fraternity paused and looked back at the incredible journey of one of India’s greatest batters. While his entire Test career is nothing short of inspirational, the years 2016 to 2018 truly stand out as the peak of King Kohli in Test cricket. Kohli made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies at Kingston Oval. His start was not great, scoring a mere 4 runs in the first innings, and he had to wait until 2012 to score his first century in whites, which came at the Adelaide Oval in Australia. Then, between 2012 and 2015, he was consistent and steady enough, but didn’t manage to score 1000 Test runs in a calendar year. Also Read | 'Test cricket is the toughest' - BCCI shares heartful video after Virat Kohli's retirement That scenario changed in 2016. From that year onwards, Kohli reached the peak level. The peak of Virat Kohli in Tests Between 2016 and 2018, he scored 3,596 runs in 35 Test matches. He averaged 66.59 during this period, with 14 centuries and 8 half-centuries in just 58 innings. One of the biggest highlights came during the 2018 tour of England, where he scored 593 runs in five Tests, a massive improvement from his 2014 performance in the same country, where he managed 153 runs in five games. From a setback in 2014 to a comeback in 2018, Kohli conquered the England fortress. Interestingly, in the same year, India, under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, won the first-ever Test series against Australia, defeating the Kangaroos by 2-1 in Australia. In 2019, his form started to dip, although he scored his highest-ever Test score of 254 in Pune against the Proteas that year. Kohli finished his Test career with 9,230 runs in 210 innings at an average of 46.85. He is fourth on the list of all-time highest run-scorers for India in Tests, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. Even though he has retired from the format, Kohli’s passion, discipline, and hunger for runs will be remembered forever. His performances, especially from 2016 to 2018, will always be seen as the golden period of his Test career. Even though Virat Kohli has retired, he will be remembered forever for his love towards Test cricket.

3,596 runs, 14 tons and average of 66: When Virat Kohli ruled Test cricket from 2016 to 2018

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli</a> is a walking great, perhaps the greatest cricketer of his time. Having accomplished unbelievable feats in abundance during his 14-year stint in the whites that ended on Monday (May 12) as he announced his Test retirement via a social media post, Kohli called time on a glorious yet proud career. Meanwhile, social media was flooded with congratulatory posts, all showering love and shock over his decision, one of which included Tennis legend <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/novak-djokovic" rel="dofollow">Novak Djokovic</a>.</p>
<p>Djokovic enjoys watching any little cricket he does, having shared space with some of the top modern-day names like Steve Smith during one of the Australian Open segments earlier. He is not new to the gentlemen&rsquo;s game, like his peers <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/roger-federer" rel="dofollow">Roger Federer</a> and Andy Murray, who have also admitted admiration for cricket and a few of its greats, making it a crossover that shouldn&rsquo;t surprise anyone.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-save-your-tears-virat-kohli-cricketing-idol-sachin-tendulkar-pens-heartfelt-note-for-kohli-on-test-retirement-rishi-sunak-uk-pm-9060860" rel="dofollow">Save your tears! Virat&rsquo;s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement</a></strong></p>
<p>Per several reports, Kohli informed the BCCI about his intentions to do away with Tests just ahead of the five-match England series starting June 20 in Leeds. While the BCCI officials confirmed those developments by trying to have a highly influential Indian cricketer try to persuade Virat to do a U-Turn on his decision, Kohli&rsquo;s final call shocked most of the cricketing fraternity.</p>
<p>On Monday, he took to Instagram to announce his Test retirement.</p>
<p>"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 said in a social media statement.&nbsp;</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p>"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. 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,&rdquo; he wrote.</p>
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<h2>Djokovic&rsquo;s message for Kohli</h2>
<p>Djokovic posted an Instagram story on Monday, writing, &lsquo;Incredible Innings&rsquo;, while congratulating Kohli on a decorated Test cricket career.</p>
<p><img src="https://img-cdn.publive.online/fit-in/371x0/filters:format(webp)/wion/media/post_attachments/07c06ad6-261.png" data-clarity-loaded="10uwbkn" style="width: 371px;" class="center"></p>
<p>In whites, Virat played 123 matches, scoring 9230 runs, including seven double hundreds.&nbsp;</p>

Social media was flooded with congratulatory posts, all showering love and shock over his decision, one of which included Novak Djokovic. Sports, Cricket, Tennis

Virat Kohli is a walking great, perhaps the greatest cricketer of his time. Having accomplished unbelievable feats in abundance during his 14-year stint in the whites that ended on Monday (May 12) as he announced his Test retirement via a social media post, Kohli called time on a glorious yet proud career. Meanwhile, social media was flooded with congratulatory posts, all showering love and shock over his decision, one of which included Tennis legend Novak Djokovic. Djokovic enjoys watching any little cricket he does, having shared space with some of the top modern-day names like Steve Smith during one of the Australian Open segments earlier. He is not new to the gentlemen’s game, like his peers Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who have also admitted admiration for cricket and a few of its greats, making it a crossover that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Also read | Save your tears! Virat’s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement Per several reports, Kohli informed the BCCI about his intentions to do away with Tests just ahead of the five-match England series starting June 20 in Leeds. While the BCCI officials confirmed those developments by trying to have a highly influential Indian cricketer try to persuade Virat to do a U-Turn on his decision, Kohli’s final call shocked most of the cricketing fraternity. On Monday, he took to Instagram to announce his Test retirement. "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 said in a social media statement. "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. 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 wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) Djokovic’s message for Kohli Djokovic posted an Instagram story on Monday, writing, ‘Incredible Innings’, while congratulating Kohli on a decorated Test cricket career. In whites, Virat played 123 matches, scoring 9230 runs, including seven double hundreds.

Kohli’s greatness breaches borders as Tennis great Novak Djokovic congratulates him on Test retirement

<p>A silence swept across the cricketing world Monday (12 May) as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/search?title=virat+kohli" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Virat Kohli</a>, India&rsquo;s modern-day colossus, officially <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9059470" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">announced his retirement from Test cricket.</a> After a remarkable journey that spanned over a decade, Kohli bids farewell to the format he once described as &ldquo;the highest level.&rdquo; To honour the moment, the BCCI released an emotional video on X, capturing the very essence of Kohli&rsquo;s relationship with the red-ball game.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mal4aiss-o89ugptw-yzsf3lxs">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Illustrious legacy 🇮🇳<br>Inspiring intensity 👏<br>Incredible icon ❤️<br><br>The Former <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> Captain gave it all to Test Cricket 🙌<br><br>Thank you for the memories in whites, Virat Kohli 🫡<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/febCkcFhoC">pic.twitter.com/febCkcFhoC</a></p>
&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1921871745923092681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>In the video, Kohli&rsquo;s voice echoes to what made him the heartbeat of Indian Test cricket: &ldquo;The idea was to play Test cricket for India, and that was always the goal. This is the highest level.&rdquo; That passion defined every stride he took onto the field, every roar after a milestone, and every stare-down towards the opposition bowler.</p>
<h2><strong>Kohli speaks on why Test cricket is special for him</strong></h2>
<p>Kohli spoke about the challenges of Test cricket and how conquering them made the format special for him: &ldquo;No one's going to tell you to bat with care or bat responsibly. Test cricket in this place, in this situation, is the hardest. You have to embrace it. You have to enjoy it.&rdquo;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-retires-in-2014-virat-kohli-led-india-first-time-and-changed-the-indian-cricket-forever-9061119" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Virat Kohli Retires: In 2014 Virat Kohli led India first time and changed the Indian cricket forever</a></strong></p>
<p>He also added, "You will see a broader smile on my face when we accept the overseas challenge", and Kohli sticking to his words breached the Australian fortress in 2018. Under his captaincy, India won the first test match series in Australia.</p>
<p>His words weren't just reflections, they were his thought process and way of looking at Test cricket, which thrived on competition every time. Whether it meant charging down the track, running hard for an extra single, or playing a grounded shot, Kohli did it all with unmatched intensity and according to the team's requirements.</p>
<p>The video ended with a visual of Kohli giving a thumbs up, and the screen turned to Thank you, Virat Kohli.</p>
<p>Kohli&rsquo;s legacy in Test cricket is not just about centuries or runs. It&rsquo;s about the pride he carried wearing the whites, the hunger to win overseas, and the passion that reignited a generation&rsquo;s love for Test cricket.</p>
<p>As the King leaves his den, he leaves behind not just numbers, but memories that will echo in every Indian fan&rsquo;s heart.&nbsp;</p>

To honour Virat Kohli's retirement, the BCCI released an emotional video on X, capturing the very essence of Kohli’s relationship with the red-ball game. Sports Cricket

A silence swept across the cricketing world Monday (12 May) as Virat Kohli, India’s modern-day colossus, officially announced his retirement from Test cricket. After a remarkable journey that spanned over a decade, Kohli bids farewell to the format he once described as “the highest level.” To honour the moment, the BCCI released an emotional video on X, capturing the very essence of Kohli’s relationship with the red-ball game. Illustrious legacy 🇮🇳 Inspiring intensity 👏 Incredible icon ❤️ The Former #TeamIndia Captain gave it all to Test Cricket 🙌 Thank you for the memories in whites, Virat Kohli 🫡#ViratKohli | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/febCkcFhoC — BCCI (@BCCI) May 12, 2025 In the video, Kohli’s voice echoes to what made him the heartbeat of Indian Test cricket: “The idea was to play Test cricket for India, and that was always the goal. This is the highest level.” That passion defined every stride he took onto the field, every roar after a milestone, and every stare-down towards the opposition bowler. Kohli speaks on why Test cricket is special for him Kohli spoke about the challenges of Test cricket and how conquering them made the format special for him: “No one's going to tell you to bat with care or bat responsibly. Test cricket in this place, in this situation, is the hardest. You have to embrace it. You have to enjoy it.” Also Read | Virat Kohli Retires: In 2014 Virat Kohli led India first time and changed the Indian cricket forever He also added, "You will see a broader smile on my face when we accept the overseas challenge", and Kohli sticking to his words breached the Australian fortress in 2018. Under his captaincy, India won the first test match series in Australia. His words weren't just reflections, they were his thought process and way of looking at Test cricket, which thrived on competition every time. Whether it meant charging down the track, running hard for an extra single, or playing a grounded shot, Kohli did it all with unmatched intensity and according to the team's requirements. The video ended with a visual of Kohli giving a thumbs up, and the screen turned to Thank you, Virat Kohli. Kohli’s legacy in Test cricket is not just about centuries or runs. It’s about the pride he carried wearing the whites, the hunger to win overseas, and the passion that reignited a generation’s love for Test cricket. As the King leaves his den, he leaves behind not just numbers, but memories that will echo in every Indian fan’s heart.

'Test cricket is the toughest' - BCCI shares heartful video after Virat Kohli's retirement

As Virat Kohli leaves his den, let's relive Virat Kohli’s 6 iconic Test double centuries that defined his reign and supremacy in Test cricket. Sports Cricket Photos

Reliving 6 double hundreds of Virat Kohli in Test cricket

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">As cricketing legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, several Bollywood stars took to social media to pay tribute to the sportsman. Virat is one of the most celebrated names in the world of cricket and has scored 9230 runs in 123 test matches. Kohli has finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in this format.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On Monday, soon after Virat announced his retirement, actors like Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh and Suniel Shetty shared warm wishes for the cricketer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Virat Kohli announces retirement<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">On Monday, the cricketing legend posted a long, emotional note on Instagram, which read, "It&rsquo;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&rsquo;s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I&rsquo;ll carry for life. There&rsquo;s something deeply personal about playing in whites... I&rsquo;ve given it everything I had, and it&rsquo;s given me back so much more than I could&rsquo;ve hoped for. I&rsquo;m walking away with a heart full of gratitude... #269, signing off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-🇳❤️&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=en-us&gt;&rdquo;&lt;o: p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span lang=EN-US&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span lang=EN-US&gt;Celebrities pay their tributes&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span lang=EN-US&gt;Actor Ranveer Singh commented on Virat;"  said,="" “one=""  billion!="" <="" span=""><span lang="EN-US" mso-bidi-&#128588;&#127997;<="" span=""><span lang="EN-US">&rdquo;.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-🇳❤️&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang=en-us&gt;&rdquo;&lt;o: p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span lang=EN-US&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span lang=EN-US&gt;Celebrities pay their tributes&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=MsoNormal&gt;&lt;span lang=EN-US&gt;Actor Ranveer Singh commented on Virat;" ><span lang="EN-US" mso-bidi-&#128588;&#127997;<="" span=""><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-virat-kohli-to-sourav-ganguly-5-most-successful-test-captains-for-india-virat-kohli-test-retirement-sports-cricket-9059696">From Virat Kohli to Sourav Ganguly: 5 most successful Test captains for India</a></span></span></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Celebrities pay their tributes<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Actor Ranveer Singh commented on Virat's post and said, &ldquo;One in a Billion! </span><span lang="EN-US" mso-bidi-&#128588;&#127997;<="" span=""><span lang="EN-US">&rdquo;. Vicky Kaushal shared Virat's post to his Instagram stories and wrote, &ldquo;You did it your way and that way will try be missed. Congratulations on an incredibly inspiring test career and thank you for the memories Champ! @viratkohli (crown emoji, white heart emoji, hands clapping emoji).&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" mso-bidi-&#128588;&#127997;<="" span=""><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/one-post-ten-million-hearts-virat-kohlis-retirement-post-shakes-instagram-virat-kohli-cricket-sports-9060306">One post, ten million hearts: Virat Kohli's retirement post shakes Instagram</a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Actor Suniel Shetty posted a heartfelt note on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, &ldquo;You didn&rsquo;t just play Test cricket Virat&hellip;You lived it. You Honoured it, breathed fire, wore your heart on your sleeve and your passion like armour. The roar. The grit. The obsession. The Heart. Take a bow, champ. The red-ball rests, but your legacy races on.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mal27k17-whdt30bn-0jp0vt29">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You didn&rsquo;t just play Test cricket Virat&hellip;<br>You lived it. You Honoured it, breathed fire, wore your heart on your sleeve and your passion like armour.<br><br>The roar. The grit. The obsession. The Heart.<br>Take a bow, champ. The red-ball rests, but your legacy races on. <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> <a href="https://t.co/jXkL6o55e1">pic.twitter.com/jXkL6o55e1</a></p>
&mdash; Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) <a href="https://twitter.com/SunielVShetty/status/1921834897351524835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Anushka Sharma pens an emotional note<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Virat&rsquo;s wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, took to Instagram and shared an emotional note about his retirement.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Anushka shared a photo of her and Virat from the field, post one of the matches. In the caption, she wrote, &ldquo;They&rsquo;ll talk about the records and the milestones &mdash; but I&rsquo;ll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. I know how much all this took from you. After every Test series, you came back a little wiser, a little humbler &mdash; and watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege.</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/anushka-sharma-reacts-as-virat-kohli-retires-from-test-cricket-youve-earned-every-bit-of-this-goodbye-9060757">Anushka Sharma reacts as Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: &lsquo;You&rsquo;ve earned every bit of this goodbye&rsquo;</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Somehow, I always imagined you&rsquo;d retire international cricket in whites &mdash; But you&rsquo;ve always followed your heart, and so I just want to say my love, you&rsquo;ve earned every bit of this goodbye&nbsp;</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Segoe UI Emoji';">❤️</span><span lang="EN-US">&rdquo;</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>

Entertainment As cricketing legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, several Bollywood stars took to social media to pay tribute to the sportsman.

As cricketing legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, several Bollywood stars took to social media to pay tribute to the sportsman. Virat is one of the most celebrated names in the world of cricket and has scored 9230 runs in 123 test matches. Kohli has finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in this format. On Monday, soon after Virat announced his retirement, actors like Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh and Suniel Shetty shared warm wishes for the cricketer. Virat Kohli announces retirement On Monday, the cricketing legend posted a long, emotional note on Instagram, which read, "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. There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites... I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude... #269, signing off. <="" span="">”. <="" span="">From Virat Kohli to Sourav Ganguly: 5 most successful Test captains for India Celebrities pay their tributes Actor Ranveer Singh commented on Virat's post and said, “One in a Billion! ”. Vicky Kaushal shared Virat's post to his Instagram stories and wrote, “You did it your way and that way will try be missed. Congratulations on an incredibly inspiring test career and thank you for the memories Champ! @viratkohli (crown emoji, white heart emoji, hands clapping emoji).” One post, ten million hearts: Virat Kohli's retirement post shakes Instagram Actor Suniel Shetty posted a heartfelt note on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “You didn’t just play Test cricket Virat…You lived it. You Honoured it, breathed fire, wore your heart on your sleeve and your passion like armour. The roar. The grit. The obsession. The Heart. Take a bow, champ. The red-ball rests, but your legacy races on.” You didn’t just play Test cricket Virat… You lived it. You Honoured it, breathed fire, wore your heart on your sleeve and your passion like armour. The roar. The grit. The obsession. The Heart. Take a bow, champ. The red-ball rests, but your legacy races on. @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/jXkL6o55e1 — Suniel Shetty (@SunielVShetty) May 12, 2025 Anushka Sharma pens an emotional note Virat’s wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, took to Instagram and shared an emotional note about his retirement. Anushka shared a photo of her and Virat from the field, post one of the matches. In the caption, she wrote, “They’ll talk about the records and the milestones — but I’ll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. I know how much all this took from you. After every Test series, you came back a little wiser, a little humbler — and watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege. Anushka Sharma reacts as Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: ‘You’ve earned every bit of this goodbye’ Somehow, I always imagined you’d retire international cricket in whites — But you’ve always followed your heart, and so I just want to say my love, you’ve earned every bit of this goodbye ❤️”

Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal send warm wishes as Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test Cricket: Go well, King!

<p>Former India skipper Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday (May 12) in a heartfelt post on social media. There were reports doing rounds since last few days that Kohli has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about retiring from red-ball cricket. The board, however, tried to convince him to stay on for the upcoming tour of England but Kohli decided otherwise.</p>
<p>Kohli retired as one of the greats of the Test cricket not only for India but in world cricket. He was one of the four members of modern-day great batters nicknamed Fab Four - the other three are Joe Root (England), Steve Smith (Australia) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand).</p>
<p><strong>Also Read -</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-save-your-tears-virat-kohli-cricketing-idol-sachin-tendulkar-pens-heartfelt-note-for-kohli-on-test-retirement-rishi-sunak-uk-pm-9060860">Save your tears! Virat&rsquo;s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement</a></p>
<p>During his career which spanned nearly 14 years from 2011 to 2025, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties. He was also the Indian skipper from 2014 to 2022 and the kind of cricket he was going to play was visible in the first Test he led India in, although as a stand-in.</p>
<p>On the 2014 tour of Australia, Virat stood skipper in Adelaide Test and the match laid out the template India would follow for the next few years.</p>
<h2><strong>How Virat Kohli changed Indian cricket forever</strong></h2>
<p>Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first. The hosts finished on 354/6 on day 1 of the Test and India looked behind in the game. Come next day, the Aussies continued to bat and took their score past 500.</p>
<p>When India came on to bat, they scored 369/6 to finish day 3 and Kohli had hit 115 runs out of them before getting out - but what he did was give India a chance to still win the game and put Australia on the backfoot a bit.</p>
<p>After India were bowled out 444 on day 4 in reply of 517/7d, Australia scored 290/5 in the second innings before declaring overnight and challenged India to chase down 364 on the final day.</p>
<p>Everybody thought India would play safe and go for the draw and it looked like that for the first 20 over when India managed near about 60 runs before Kohli came out to bat.</p>
<p>What happened in the next 50 overs changed the way Indians played cricket forever - it was a new India, Kohli's India.</p>
<p>Virat scored his second century of the Test as India reached from 57/2 to 242/3 - needing just 120 odd runs in the 20 overs with seven wickets in hand.</p>
<p>After Kohli's dismissal for 141 in the 82nd over and 60 short of the target, however, India lost the plot and were bowled out for 315 runs. But nobody was disappointed as Kohli's men had showed that they play to win no matter the cost.</p>
<p>On the next tour, India became the first Asian team to beat Australia in Australia in a Test series - all because of Virat Kohli.&nbsp;</p>

On the 2014 tour of Australia, Virat stood skipper in Adelaide Test and the match laid out the template India would follow for the next few years. Cricket Sports

Former India skipper Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday (May 12) in a heartfelt post on social media. There were reports doing rounds since last few days that Kohli has told the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about retiring from red-ball cricket. The board, however, tried to convince him to stay on for the upcoming tour of England but Kohli decided otherwise. Kohli retired as one of the greats of the Test cricket not only for India but in world cricket. He was one of the four members of modern-day great batters nicknamed Fab Four - the other three are Joe Root (England), Steve Smith (Australia) and Kane Williamson (New Zealand). Also Read - Save your tears! Virat’s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement During his career which spanned nearly 14 years from 2011 to 2025, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46 with 30 tons and 31 fifties. He was also the Indian skipper from 2014 to 2022 and the kind of cricket he was going to play was visible in the first Test he led India in, although as a stand-in. On the 2014 tour of Australia, Virat stood skipper in Adelaide Test and the match laid out the template India would follow for the next few years. How Virat Kohli changed Indian cricket forever Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first. The hosts finished on 354/6 on day 1 of the Test and India looked behind in the game. Come next day, the Aussies continued to bat and took their score past 500. When India came on to bat, they scored 369/6 to finish day 3 and Kohli had hit 115 runs out of them before getting out - but what he did was give India a chance to still win the game and put Australia on the backfoot a bit. After India were bowled out 444 on day 4 in reply of 517/7d, Australia scored 290/5 in the second innings before declaring overnight and challenged India to chase down 364 on the final day. Everybody thought India would play safe and go for the draw and it looked like that for the first 20 over when India managed near about 60 runs before Kohli came out to bat. What happened in the next 50 overs changed the way Indians played cricket forever - it was a new India, Kohli's India. Virat scored his second century of the Test as India reached from 57/2 to 242/3 - needing just 120 odd runs in the 20 overs with seven wickets in hand. After Kohli's dismissal for 141 in the 82nd over and 60 short of the target, however, India lost the plot and were bowled out for 315 runs. But nobody was disappointed as Kohli's men had showed that they play to win no matter the cost. On the next tour, India became the first Asian team to beat Australia in Australia in a Test series - all because of Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli Retires: In 2014 Virat Kohli led India first time and changed the Indian cricket forever

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9059470" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli&rsquo;s Test retirement announcement</a> on Monday (May 12) broke a billion hearts worldwide. The modern-day great took to his Instagram handle to inform everyone of his decision to step aside from his favourite format. A Test giant by all means, having scored 9230 runs in 123 matches in the whites, Kohli finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in this format. On his retirement, his cricketing idol and greatest ever, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sachin-tendulkar" rel="dofollow">Sachin Tendulkar</a>, paid a heartfelt tribute.</p>
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<p>Keep aside tissues for some tears!</p>
<p>The fans, experts, analysts, and who's who of the cricket world compared Kohli to Sachin all these years, only for them to end up admiring both to the fullest. While Kohli bowed out as the best Indian Test captain, having won most matches as a skipper, Sachin remains perhaps the best batter the game has seen. Great yet different on almost all counts, both helped put Indian Cricket on a pedestal.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-from-one-delhi-boy-to-another-team-india-head-coach-gautam-gambhirs-tribute-to-virat-kohli-on-test-retirement-9060554" rel="dofollow">From one Delhi boy to another &ndash; head coach Gautam Gambhir&rsquo;s tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement</a></strong></p>
<p>Luckily for Virat, he shared the Indian dressing room with his idol, winning the 2011 ODI World Cup at home together.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Since Sachin&rsquo;s retirement in 2013, Virat took over the number-four spot in Tests, rightly justifying it with his countless match-winning performances, and more so for his impact on Indian Cricket and the game overall.</p>
<p>With both not part of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/test-cricket" rel="dofollow">Test cricket</a> any more, Sachin took to his social media handle X to tell Virat how proud he is of his game and success in the whites while sharing a teary moment close to his heart.</p>
<h2>Sachin&rsquo;s tribute to Virat</h2>
<p>&ldquo;As you retire from Tests, I'm reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heartwarming and has stayed with me ever since. While I may not have a thread to offer in return, please know that you carry my deepest admiration and very best wishes,&rdquo; Sachin wrote on his social media post.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Your true legacy, Virat, lies in inspiring countless young cricketers to pick up the sport.</p>
<p>&ldquo;What an incredible Test career you have had! You have given Indian cricket so much more than just runs &ndash; you have given it a new generation of passionate fans and players.</p>
<p>&ldquo;Congratulations on a very special Test career,&rdquo; he concluded.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mal04fvu-p8uel9kp-i62tmeet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As you retire from Tests, I'm reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heartwarming and has stayed with me ever since. While I&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/JaVzVxG0mQ">pic.twitter.com/JaVzVxG0mQ</a></p>
&mdash; Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1921872348996616685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<h3>Ex-UK PM also lauds Kohli</h3>
<p>Rishi Sunak, the former United Kingdom Prime Minister, expressed sadness over not being able to watch Kohli this summer in England as India travels to the UK for the five-match Test series starting June 20 in Leeds.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Paying tribute to Virat, who said goodbye to his favourite format, Sunak wrote,&nbsp;&ldquo;Sad we won't get to see @imVkohli one last time this summer.&nbsp;He has been a legend of the game: a superb batsman, an astute captain and a formidable competitor who always understood the true value of Test cricket.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mal04sge-fg4r7t60-r424mrg2">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sad we won't get to see <a href="https://twitter.com/imVkohli?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imVkohli</a> one last time this summer.<br><br>He has been a legend of the game: a superb batsman, an astute captain and a formidable competitor who always understood the true value of Test cricket.</p>
&mdash; Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1921883388446691681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>

Luckily for Virat Kohli, he shared the Indian dressing room with his idol Sachin Tendulkar, winning the 2011 ODI World Cup at home together. Sports, Cricket

Virat Kohli’s Test retirement announcement on Monday (May 12) broke a billion hearts worldwide. The modern-day great took to his Instagram handle to inform everyone of his decision to step aside from his favourite format. A Test giant by all means, having scored 9230 runs in 123 matches in the whites, Kohli finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in this format. On his retirement, his cricketing idol and greatest ever, Sachin Tendulkar, paid a heartfelt tribute. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) Keep aside tissues for some tears! The fans, experts, analysts, and who's who of the cricket world compared Kohli to Sachin all these years, only for them to end up admiring both to the fullest. While Kohli bowed out as the best Indian Test captain, having won most matches as a skipper, Sachin remains perhaps the best batter the game has seen. Great yet different on almost all counts, both helped put Indian Cricket on a pedestal. Also read | From one Delhi boy to another – head coach Gautam Gambhir’s tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement Luckily for Virat, he shared the Indian dressing room with his idol, winning the 2011 ODI World Cup at home together. Since Sachin’s retirement in 2013, Virat took over the number-four spot in Tests, rightly justifying it with his countless match-winning performances, and more so for his impact on Indian Cricket and the game overall. With both not part of Test cricket any more, Sachin took to his social media handle X to tell Virat how proud he is of his game and success in the whites while sharing a teary moment close to his heart. Sachin’s tribute to Virat “As you retire from Tests, I'm reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heartwarming and has stayed with me ever since. While I may not have a thread to offer in return, please know that you carry my deepest admiration and very best wishes,” Sachin wrote on his social media post. “Your true legacy, Virat, lies in inspiring countless young cricketers to pick up the sport. “What an incredible Test career you have had! You have given Indian cricket so much more than just runs – you have given it a new generation of passionate fans and players. “Congratulations on a very special Test career,” he concluded. As you retire from Tests, I'm reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heartwarming and has stayed with me ever since. While I… pic.twitter.com/JaVzVxG0mQ — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 12, 2025 Ex-UK PM also lauds Kohli Rishi Sunak, the former United Kingdom Prime Minister, expressed sadness over not being able to watch Kohli this summer in England as India travels to the UK for the five-match Test series starting June 20 in Leeds. Paying tribute to Virat, who said goodbye to his favourite format, Sunak wrote, “Sad we won't get to see @imVkohli one last time this summer. He has been a legend of the game: a superb batsman, an astute captain and a formidable competitor who always understood the true value of Test cricket.” Sad we won't get to see @imVkohli one last time this summer. He has been a legend of the game: a superb batsman, an astute captain and a formidable competitor who always understood the true value of Test cricket. — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 12, 2025

Save your tears! Virat’s cricketing idol Sachin Tendulkar pens heartfelt note for Kohli on Test retirement

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma shared a warm note as her husband, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test Cricket. Anushka shared a warm note on Instagram and looked back at Virat&rsquo;s journey and said how she had the privilege of watching him evolve with each test series.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">What Anushka said on Instagram<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Anushka shared a photo of her and Virat from the field, post one of the matches. In the caption, she wrote, &ldquo;They&rsquo;ll talk about the records and the milestones &mdash; but I&rsquo;ll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. I know how much all this took from you. After every Test series, you came back a little wiser, a little humbler &mdash; and watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/birthday-special-from-a-model-to-bollywoods-leading-lady-anushka-sharmas-life-in-spotlight-9022401">Birthday special: From a model to Bollywood's leading lady: Anushka Sharma's life in spotlight</a><br><br>Somehow, I always imagined you&rsquo;d retire international cricket in whites &mdash; But you&rsquo;ve always followed your heart, and so I just want to say my love, you&rsquo;ve earned every bit of this goodbye </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: 'Segoe UI Emoji';">❤️&rdquo;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJjH0kFMj3K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma)</a></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Virat responded with heart emojis to Anushka's post.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Soon after Virat announced his retirement, the couple were spotted at the Mumbai airport jetting off together.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Virat Kohli announces retirement<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Indian cricketer Virat Kohli announced retired from Test cricket on Monday. Virat, who has also served as captain of the Indian cricket team, announced his retirement from the T20 format in 2024. The cricketer will continue to play ODIs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">On Monday afternoon, Virat posted on Instagram, "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. 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."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-IN;">Anushka and Virat married in 2017 and share two children- daughter Vamika and son Akaay.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></p>
<p class="gh-archive-page-post-title"><a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-from-one-delhi-boy-to-another-team-india-head-coach-gautam-gambhirs-tribute-to-virat-kohli-on-test-retirement-9060554" aria-label="From one Delhi boy to another &ndash; head coach Gautam Gambhir&rsquo;s tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement">From one Delhi boy to another &ndash; head coach Gautam Gambhir&rsquo;s tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/one-post-ten-million-hearts-virat-kohlis-retirement-post-shakes-instagram-virat-kohli-cricket-sports-9060306">One post, ten million hearts: Virat Kohli's retirement post shakes Instagram</a></span></p>

Anushka shared a warm note on Instagram and looked back at Virat’s journey and said how she had the privilege of watching him evolve with each test series. Cricket | Entertainment

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma shared a warm note as her husband, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test Cricket. Anushka shared a warm note on Instagram and looked back at Virat’s journey and said how she had the privilege of watching him evolve with each test series. What Anushka said on Instagram Anushka shared a photo of her and Virat from the field, post one of the matches. In the caption, she wrote, “They’ll talk about the records and the milestones — but I’ll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. I know how much all this took from you. After every Test series, you came back a little wiser, a little humbler — and watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege. Birthday special: From a model to Bollywood's leading lady: Anushka Sharma's life in spotlight Somehow, I always imagined you’d retire international cricket in whites — But you’ve always followed your heart, and so I just want to say my love, you’ve earned every bit of this goodbye ❤️” View this post on Instagram A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) Virat responded with heart emojis to Anushka's post. Soon after Virat announced his retirement, the couple were spotted at the Mumbai airport jetting off together. Virat Kohli announces retirement Indian cricketer Virat Kohli announced retired from Test cricket on Monday. Virat, who has also served as captain of the Indian cricket team, announced his retirement from the T20 format in 2024. The cricketer will continue to play ODIs. On Monday afternoon, Virat posted on Instagram, "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. 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." Anushka and Virat married in 2017 and share two children- daughter Vamika and son Akaay. From one Delhi boy to another – head coach Gautam Gambhir’s tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement One post, ten million hearts: Virat Kohli's retirement post shakes Instagram

Anushka Sharma reacts as Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: ‘You’ve earned every bit of this goodbye’

<p>Indian batting great <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-announces-retirement-from-test-cricket-9059470" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement</a> on Monday (May 12), taking to his social media handle (Instagram) to inform everyone. Virat, a modern-day great, was a Test cricket endorser, having played 123 matches and scored 9230 runs in his 14-year Test career. As he bids adieu to Tests, his favourite among all three, his former India and Delhi teammate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/gautam-gambhir" rel="dofollow">Gautam Gambhir</a>, head coach of the Indian Team, paid tribute to Virat in the most GG-style.</p>
<p>Taking to his X handle, Gautam posted, &lsquo;A man with lion&rsquo;s passion!</p>
<p>Will miss u cheeks&hellip;.&rsquo;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-makxxr23-4o20xt1t-kwdj7lqg">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">A man with lion&rsquo;s passion! <br>Will miss u cheeks&hellip;. <a href="https://t.co/uNGW7Y8Ak6">pic.twitter.com/uNGW7Y8Ak6</a></p>
&mdash; Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/1921834294588174827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Gautam&rsquo;s choice of words fit well for Virat, whose meaning, as translated in English, is &lsquo;mighty&rsquo;, and why not? Virat wore pride on his sleeves while representing India in Test cricket, where he captained India in 68 matches, guiding them to a victory in 40 of those.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Under his leadership, India attained the top ranking in the Test format, regaining the Test mace. Besides this, India also made history by beating Australia in Australia for the first time during the 2018 tour, coming under Kohli&rsquo;s captaincy. Although they again won the next away tour Down Under in 2020/21, India did that under <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane" rel="dofollow">Ajinkya Rahane</a>&rsquo;s captaincy as Kohli was on paternity leave.</p>
<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/virat-kohli-the-king-who-walked-out-with-fire-and-won-every-war-he-fought-9059617" rel="dofollow">Virat Kohli: The king who walked out with fire and won every war he fought</a></strong></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Gautam and Kohli&rsquo;s on-field partnership goes way back to the late 2000s when Kohli emerged as an exciting youngster on the domestic scene, while Gambhir was a regular across formats. Teammates at Delhi first in the Ranji Trophy, both later shared the Indian Cricket dressing room for around a decade. Together, they won the 2011 ODI World Cup in India, stitching a pivotal stand for the third wicket in the summit clash against Sri Lanka.</p>
<p>However, there was another side to their friendship, a rather uglier one. On more than one occasion, all in the IPL, both were involved in verbal arguments, making headlines. Although the fans speculated a rift between them after the BCCI appointed Gambhir as Team India&rsquo;s new head coach, both maintained camaraderie during this stint, sharing inputs and working together as a team.</p>
<h2>Kohli retires</h2>
<p>Taking to his Instagram, Virat wrote, "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.</p>
<p>"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.</p>
<p>"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. 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,&rdquo; his statement read.&nbsp;</p>
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Gautam and Kohli’s on-field partnership goes way back to the late 2000s when Kohli emerged as an exciting youngster on the domestic scene, while Gambhir was a regular across formats. Sports, Cricket

Indian batting great Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement on Monday (May 12), taking to his social media handle (Instagram) to inform everyone. Virat, a modern-day great, was a Test cricket endorser, having played 123 matches and scored 9230 runs in his 14-year Test career. As he bids adieu to Tests, his favourite among all three, his former India and Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian Team, paid tribute to Virat in the most GG-style. Taking to his X handle, Gautam posted, ‘A man with lion’s passion! Will miss u cheeks….’ A man with lion’s passion! Will miss u cheeks…. pic.twitter.com/uNGW7Y8Ak6 — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 12, 2025 Gautam’s choice of words fit well for Virat, whose meaning, as translated in English, is ‘mighty’, and why not? Virat wore pride on his sleeves while representing India in Test cricket, where he captained India in 68 matches, guiding them to a victory in 40 of those. Under his leadership, India attained the top ranking in the Test format, regaining the Test mace. Besides this, India also made history by beating Australia in Australia for the first time during the 2018 tour, coming under Kohli’s captaincy. Although they again won the next away tour Down Under in 2020/21, India did that under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy as Kohli was on paternity leave. Also read | Virat Kohli: The king who walked out with fire and won every war he fought Meanwhile, Gautam and Kohli’s on-field partnership goes way back to the late 2000s when Kohli emerged as an exciting youngster on the domestic scene, while Gambhir was a regular across formats. Teammates at Delhi first in the Ranji Trophy, both later shared the Indian Cricket dressing room for around a decade. Together, they won the 2011 ODI World Cup in India, stitching a pivotal stand for the third wicket in the summit clash against Sri Lanka. However, there was another side to their friendship, a rather uglier one. On more than one occasion, all in the IPL, both were involved in verbal arguments, making headlines. Although the fans speculated a rift between them after the BCCI appointed Gambhir as Team India’s new head coach, both maintained camaraderie during this stint, sharing inputs and working together as a team. Kohli retires Taking to his Instagram, Virat wrote, "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. "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. 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,” his statement read. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli)

From one Delhi boy to another – head coach Gautam Gambhir’s tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement

<p>Virat Kohli, India&rsquo;s most iconic modern-day cricketer, dropped the bombshell on Monday (12 May), announcing his retirement from Test cricket, the format he loved the most. The moment he shared the news on Instagram, the social media went crazy. Within just 25 minutes, the post stormed past 3 million likes. At the time of writing, it had touched 10 million likes.</p>
<p>Such is the aura. Such is the legacy of King Kohli.</p>
<p>Kohli&rsquo;s announcement was short, emotional, and powerful. A photograph of him in whites, holding his bat, with a caption that read <span>"As I step away from this format, it&rsquo;s not easy &mdash; but it feels right. I&rsquo;ve given it everything I had, and it&rsquo;s given me back so much more than I could&rsquo;ve hoped for................................."I&rsquo;ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.<span class="id-r-component br" data-pos="25"></span>#269, signing off." Kohli wrote on Instagram.</span></p>
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<div class="undefined PjEF6 video_blk "><strong>Also Read | Virat Kohli: The king who walked out with fire and won every war he fought</strong></div>
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<p>The fans knew this day would come, but not this soon. They all believed he had for Test cricket left him.</p>
<p>What followed was a digital storm. Hashtags like #ViratKohli𓃵, #TestCricket, "END OF AN ERA" started trending within minutes. From celebrities to fellow cricketers, the tribute posts began pouring in.</p>
<h2><strong>Wishes pour in for Virat Kohli</strong></h2>
<p><span>"Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket&rsquo;s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli</span> wrote R Ashwin, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar wrote on X. The entire cricket fraternity stood up for the King&rsquo;s final bow. Even India's head coach Gautam Gambhir wrote on X, "<span>A man with lion&rsquo;s passion! Will miss u cheeks&hellip;."</span></p>
<p>For over 14 years, Kohli&rsquo;s hunger, aggression, and unmatched consistency have defined Indian Test cricket. From being the fiery youngster to the leader who made India invincible at home and fearless overseas.</p>
<p>This wasn&rsquo;t just a retirement. This was the end of a chapter that millions weren&rsquo;t ready to close.</p>
<p>And as his post continues to break the internet, one thing remains clear, Kohli may have left the Test field, but his impact can never be forgotten. It&rsquo;s immortal, and no one can ever come close to that. Test cricket owns debt to Virat Kohli.</p>

The moment he shared the news on Instagram, the social media went crazy. Within just 25 minutes, the post stormed past 3 million likes. At the time of writing, it had touched 10 million likes. Cricket Sports

Virat Kohli, India’s most iconic modern-day cricketer, dropped the bombshell on Monday (12 May), announcing his retirement from Test cricket, the format he loved the most. The moment he shared the news on Instagram, the social media went crazy. Within just 25 minutes, the post stormed past 3 million likes. At the time of writing, it had touched 10 million likes. Such is the aura. Such is the legacy of King Kohli. Kohli’s announcement was short, emotional, and powerful. A photograph of him in whites, holding his bat, with a caption that read "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................................."I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.#269, signing off." Kohli wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) Also Read | Virat Kohli: The king who walked out with fire and won every war he fought The fans knew this day would come, but not this soon. They all believed he had for Test cricket left him. What followed was a digital storm. Hashtags like #ViratKohli𓃵, #TestCricket, "END OF AN ERA" started trending within minutes. From celebrities to fellow cricketers, the tribute posts began pouring in. Wishes pour in for Virat Kohli "Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli wrote R Ashwin, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar wrote on X. The entire cricket fraternity stood up for the King’s final bow. Even India's head coach Gautam Gambhir wrote on X, "A man with lion’s passion! Will miss u cheeks…." For over 14 years, Kohli’s hunger, aggression, and unmatched consistency have defined Indian Test cricket. From being the fiery youngster to the leader who made India invincible at home and fearless overseas. This wasn’t just a retirement. This was the end of a chapter that millions weren’t ready to close. And as his post continues to break the internet, one thing remains clear, Kohli may have left the Test field, but his impact can never be forgotten. It’s immortal, and no one can ever come close to that. Test cricket owns debt to Virat Kohli.

One post, ten million hearts: Virat Kohli's retirement post shakes Instagram

From Virat Kohli to Sourav Ganguly, these are the 5 most successful Test captains for India, featuring MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly and Mohammad Azharuddin. Sports Cricket Photos

From Virat Kohli to Sourav Ganguly: 5 most successful Test captains for India

Earlier today (12 May), Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket. As the King lives his den, here are 5 young players who could replace him in Test cricket. Sports | Photos

5 player who can replace Virat Kohli in India Test team

<p>Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army, on Monday (May 12) said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a> is his favourite cricketer during the press briefing by DGMOs of all three services on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/operation-sindoor">Operation Sindoor</a> that India carried out in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam last month.</p>
<p><span>DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai tried to explain the Indian Army's action using cricket metaphor.</span></p>
<p><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3">DGMO Lieutenant General </span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q">Rajiv</span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3"> </span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q">Ghai</span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3"> said, "Targetting our airfields and logistics is way too tough. I saw that </span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q">Virat</span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3"> </span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q">Kohli</span><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3"> has just retired from test cricket; he is also one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers, <span>Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson </span>destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you ."</span></p>
<h2><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3">Watch the clip here:</span></h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai says, "Targetting our airfields and logistics is way too tough... I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/B3egs6IeOA">pic.twitter.com/B3egs6IeOA</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1921859668512776335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p><span class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3">
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<p>In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rahul-dravid">Rahul Dravid</a> (13,265 runs) and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sunil-gavaskar">Sunil Gavaskar</a> (10,122 runs).</p>

India News, Sports: Lt. General Rajiv Ghai called Virat Kohli his favourite cricketer while acknowledging his Test retirement during a press briefing on Operation Sindoor

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army, on Monday (May 12) said that Virat Kohli is his favourite cricketer during the press briefing by DGMOs of all three services on Operation Sindoor that India carried out in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam last month. DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai tried to explain the Indian Army's action using cricket metaphor. DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai said, "Targetting our airfields and logistics is way too tough. I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is also one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you ." Watch the clip here: #WATCH | Delhi | DGMO Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai says, "Targetting our airfields and logistics is way too tough... I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two… pic.twitter.com/B3egs6IeOA — ANI (@ANI) May 12, 2025 In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).

India's Lt Gen Ghai uses cricket metaphor to warn Pakistan of impenetrable defence: 'Ashes to Ashes, dust to dust'

Apart from his cricketing prowess, Kohli is known for his impressive car collection, worth crores. Take a look:


Virat Kohli's car collection: Cricketer owns these opulent cars, worth crores - Audi to Bentley

<p>There are cricketers, and then there is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>.</p>
<p>In an era more and more lopsided towards white-ball entertainment, Test cricket was Kohli's real battlefield. It tested him, battered him, shaped him, and finally, it was the format where his magnificence blazed brightest.</p>
<p>It all started in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2011. A young, fiery batsman with spiky hair and burning desire was given the 269th player to represent India in whites. But his beginning was far from royal. In his first Test against the West Indies, Kohli scored a only 19 runs in two innings. The talent was there, but Test cricket wasn't yet convinced. Nor was Kohli. At least Not then.</p>
<p>His actual test came in 2014&mdash;on England's seaming pitches. Having begun his career brightly with hundreds in Australia and Sri Lanka, expectations were sky-high. England brutally exposed him, though. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/james-anderson">James Anderson</a> had him in a stranglehold in that five-match series.</p>
<p>Kohli barely managed to get bat to ball. His eventual total: 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.40. Critics descended. Doubts hung over his head. Could India's poster boy of the next generation withstand red-ball cricket in unfamiliar surroundings?</p>
<p>But that series did not shape Virat Kohli. His reaction to it did.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sports-virat-kohli-retires-from-tests-but-he-never-faced-pakistan-despite-impressive-performances-in-white-ball-9059845">Virat Kohli retires from Tests but he never faced THIS opponent despite impressive performances in white-ball</a></strong></p>
<p>He came back from the ruins of 2014 with a fire kept for the legends. In December that year, he strolled into Adelaide as the acting captain and smashed twin hundreds in his maiden Test as skipper.</p>
<p>Australia possessed Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, aggression, pace, and bounce&mdash;but Kohli possessed resilience. He scored 692 runs in that series, and with that, his new beginning started. The wounds of England healed and were replaced by the aura of a new leader who did not fear failure because he knew how to battle.</p>
<p>Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli found a zone touched by few batters. He accumulated six double hundreds during this time&mdash;against West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. He did not merely make runs; he piled them up with regularity. He had overcome spin, mastered pace, and perfected his technique until it shone. There were cover drives that cut through attacks like a sharp blade. There was footwork so calculated it looked choreographed. His Test average soared above 50, and with it, so did India&rsquo;s fortunes.</p>
<h2>Kohli's leadership changed changed India's fortunes</h2>
<p>His leadership, meanwhile, reshaped Indian Test cricket&rsquo;s identity. Gone was the tentative traveler. Under Kohli, India attacked and became more aggressive. He backed pacers like <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jasprit-bumrah" rel="dofollow">Jasprit Bumrah</a>, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav to hunt in packs. He demanded elite fitness and built a culture of discipline and aggression. India won back-to-back series in Australia&mdash;an almost mythical feat for any Asian side. Under him, India reached No. 1 in the Test rankings and remained there for more than four years. In South Africa and England, although the victories did not always arrive, the struggle never departed.</p>
<p>Even as captain, never a figurehead. He was the front-line warrior&mdash;be it at Lord's, MCG, or Wanderers. His energy magnetic, his celebrations primal. Every wicket significant. Every session a war to be fought and won.</p>
<p>But the journey was never straight. After 2020, the runs dried up. The hundreds paused. The pressure of expectations, the bio-bubbles, the captaincy woes&mdash;they got to him. He relinquished the Test captaincy in 2022. It was the end of an era. But even while the big scores evaded him, the hunger never left him.</p>
<p>And appropriately, towards the twilight of his career, Kohli redeemed himself once more. During the 2024&ndash;25 home summer, he retired on three hundred in four Tests&mdash;classic Kohli in whites. The drives were back, the body language was charged, and the fans knew: the King was retiring, but on his own terms.</p>
<p>Virat Kohli did not merely play Test cricket. He lived it, breathed it, bled for it.&nbsp;The whites are folded now. But the tales will reverberate&mdash;of a Delhi boy who failed, fought, and finished as a colossus of Test cricket.</p>
<p>In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).</p>
<p>The King has retired from the red ball. But his roar will remain forever.</p>

India News, Sports, Trending: Kohli brings down the curtains on a prolific red-ball career, spanning 14 years. He made his Test debut against the West Indies in 2011

There are cricketers, and then there is Virat Kohli. In an era more and more lopsided towards white-ball entertainment, Test cricket was Kohli's real battlefield. It tested him, battered him, shaped him, and finally, it was the format where his magnificence blazed brightest. It all started in Kingston, Jamaica, in 2011. A young, fiery batsman with spiky hair and burning desire was given the 269th player to represent India in whites. But his beginning was far from royal. In his first Test against the West Indies, Kohli scored a only 19 runs in two innings. The talent was there, but Test cricket wasn't yet convinced. Nor was Kohli. At least Not then. His actual test came in 2014—on England's seaming pitches. Having begun his career brightly with hundreds in Australia and Sri Lanka, expectations were sky-high. England brutally exposed him, though. James Anderson had him in a stranglehold in that five-match series. Kohli barely managed to get bat to ball. His eventual total: 134 runs in 10 innings at an average of 13.40. Critics descended. Doubts hung over his head. Could India's poster boy of the next generation withstand red-ball cricket in unfamiliar surroundings? But that series did not shape Virat Kohli. His reaction to it did. Also Read: Virat Kohli retires from Tests but he never faced THIS opponent despite impressive performances in white-ball He came back from the ruins of 2014 with a fire kept for the legends. In December that year, he strolled into Adelaide as the acting captain and smashed twin hundreds in his maiden Test as skipper. Australia possessed Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, aggression, pace, and bounce—but Kohli possessed resilience. He scored 692 runs in that series, and with that, his new beginning started. The wounds of England healed and were replaced by the aura of a new leader who did not fear failure because he knew how to battle. Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli found a zone touched by few batters. He accumulated six double hundreds during this time—against West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. He did not merely make runs; he piled them up with regularity. He had overcome spin, mastered pace, and perfected his technique until it shone. There were cover drives that cut through attacks like a sharp blade. There was footwork so calculated it looked choreographed. His Test average soared above 50, and with it, so did India’s fortunes. Kohli's leadership changed changed India's fortunes His leadership, meanwhile, reshaped Indian Test cricket’s identity. Gone was the tentative traveler. Under Kohli, India attacked and became more aggressive. He backed pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Umesh Yadav to hunt in packs. He demanded elite fitness and built a culture of discipline and aggression. India won back-to-back series in Australia—an almost mythical feat for any Asian side. Under him, India reached No. 1 in the Test rankings and remained there for more than four years. In South Africa and England, although the victories did not always arrive, the struggle never departed. Even as captain, never a figurehead. He was the front-line warrior—be it at Lord's, MCG, or Wanderers. His energy magnetic, his celebrations primal. Every wicket significant. Every session a war to be fought and won. But the journey was never straight. After 2020, the runs dried up. The hundreds paused. The pressure of expectations, the bio-bubbles, the captaincy woes—they got to him. He relinquished the Test captaincy in 2022. It was the end of an era. But even while the big scores evaded him, the hunger never left him. And appropriately, towards the twilight of his career, Kohli redeemed himself once more. During the 2024–25 home summer, he retired on three hundred in four Tests—classic Kohli in whites. The drives were back, the body language was charged, and the fans knew: the King was retiring, but on his own terms. Virat Kohli did not merely play Test cricket. He lived it, breathed it, bled for it. The whites are folded now. But the tales will reverberate—of a Delhi boy who failed, fought, and finished as a colossus of Test cricket. In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs). The King has retired from the red ball. But his roar will remain forever.

Virat Kohli: The king who walked out with fire and won every war he fought

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