When Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, it marked the end of a chapter that had defined an era in Indian and world cricket. The decision sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity, but to those who know Kohli closely, like South African legend AB de Villiers, it was a decision rooted in instinct and heart.
“He must have listened to his heart… he followed his gut feeling,” AB de Villiers reflected, reacting to Kohli’s decision. “He has done a lot for cricket around the world, and luckily, we will still see him on the field.” The surprise was understandable. Kohli, a figure synonymous with intensity, passion, and leadership in the red-ball format, has always embodied the essence of Test cricket in the modern era.
De Villiers, who shared the Royal Challengers Bangalore dressing room with Kohli for several years, acknowledged the void his departure will create. “He will be missed in Tests. He leaves behind a great legacy in red-ball cricket,” said the former Proteas captain.
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And what a legacy it is. Kohli retires with 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He stands as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format, trailing only the legends—Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar. His top score of 254* remains etched in memory as one of his most dominant innings. Kohli’s journey in whites began modestly in 2011 against the West Indies. His initial outings didn’t set the world alight, but the breakthrough came on the 2011-12 Australia tour.
While seasoned Indian batters faltered, Kohli stood tall, scoring a gritty 116 in Adelaide and finishing as India’s top scorer in the series. Between 2016 and 2019, he was arguably the best Test batsman in the world, amassing 4,208 runs in just 43 matches at a staggering average of nearly 67. That phase saw him rack up seven double hundreds—the most by any captain in Test history—and dominate elite attacks across Australia, England, South Africa, and at home.
However, the post-2020 phase witnessed a dip. Kohli’s average dropped below 31, and centuries became rare. Yet even during this lean patch, there were glimpses of brilliance—like his 186 against Australia in Ahmedabad in 2023 and the hundred in Port of Spain. In 2023, he enjoyed a slight resurgence, scoring 671 runs at 55.91 in eight matches. His final Test appearance came on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour to Australia in 2024-25, where despite a century at Perth, he managed just 190 runs across nine innings.
The spark was still visible, but perhaps the fire wasn’t burning quite as brightly. Kohli’s Test career is a story of fearless batting, fierce rivalries, and leadership that inspired a generation. From his epic 692-run tour in Australia in 2014-15, to redemption in England in 2018, and leading India to two World Test Championship finals, he carried the torch of Indian cricket with pride.
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Yes, he had his technical flaws—struggles outside the off stump, vulnerabilities against spin—but Kohli never shied away from challenges. He took pride in leading from the front and instilled a belief that India could win anywhere in the world. As the curtains fall on his red-ball journey, fans are left with a legacy of unforgettable memories and the rise of a modern-day great who gave his all—heart, soul, and sweat—for the longest format.
