Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket, marking the end of an extraordinary era in Indian cricket. His departure closes one of the most passionate and fiercely competitive chapters the sport has seen in recent times.
The announcement came through an emotional Instagram post on May 12, but Kohli’s final appearance in whites had already taken place months earlier at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India was playing the last Test of the 2024–25 series against Australia, a contest they ultimately lost. Kohli’s farewell to the format wasn’t the storybook ending fans had dreamed of. Despite the high stakes and expectations, the match didn’t allow for the perfect send-off, casting a somber mood over what should have been a celebratory farewell.
In that match, Kohli showed flashes of his trademark grit in the first innings, where he managed 17 runs off 69 balls. However, in his final innings as a Test cricketer, he could only add six runs before falling to Scott Boland. That moment—Kohli walking back to the pavilion with his head bowed and his bat tucked under his arm—became a symbolic and emotional end to a remarkable Test career.
Statistically, Kohli’s final Test season did not reflect the heights he had once scaled. Across 19 innings, he scored only 382 runs at an average of 22.47, with a lone century. Despite the dip in form, his 14-year journey in Test cricket included some of the fiercest battles and most iconic performances, shaping him into a modern great and a leader who redefined India’s approach to the format.
Virat Kohli last walk in his favourite format 💔 pic.twitter.com/brj66iSuSw
— ' (@viratkohli_un) May 12, 2025
In his Instagram post, Kohli acknowledged the difficulty of his decision, stating that stepping away from Test cricket wasn’t easy but felt like the right time.
Virat Kohli’s last test innings ball bay ball
— Honey (@stevensmithclub) May 12, 2025
End of an amazing career pic.twitter.com/4CYOq40ilQ
The message was filled with gratitude—for the game, his teammates, and the fans who stood by him through highs and lows. While his journey in whites has ended, Kohli’s legacy as one of India’s finest Test captains and batsmen will endure in cricketing history.