Okay guys, so the news is coming which hitting hard, right? Virat Kohli, King Kohli… hanging up his boots. It feels like just yesterday we saw him burst onto the scene, all fire and energy. Remember that young guy with the swagger? Man, time flies.
It’s easy to talk about the runs, the hundreds, the records he smashed like they were nothing. And yes, those numbers are HUGE. But for us fans, it was always more than just that, wasn’t it?
It was the way he played. That passion, that fire in his eyes. You could feel it through the TV screen. He played like every single match mattered, like it was his last. That’s the Kohli we loved. The one who wore his heart on his sleeve.
Remember those amazing chases? When everyone else looked tense, he looked like he was just getting started. That belief he had, it made us believe too. We’ve roared with him, felt the highs and lows with him. He was our guy.
You can visit also: Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket
Greatest Test knocks of King Kohli
141 vs Australia, Adelaide (2014)
Kohli’s first Test as captain began with the weight of legacy and the ghost of Phillip Hughes hovering over Adelaide Oval. In pursuit of a steep fourth-innings target of 364, Kohli played an audacious innings that was part classical, part defiant. With exquisite cover drives and fearless pulls, his 141 stood as a lone beacon in a narrow defeat. It was a captain announcing himself with bravery and brilliance.
149 vs England, Edgbaston (2018)
This was Kohli versus England. Kohli versus the ghosts of 2014. And he exorcised them all. Walking in at 54 for 2, Kohli single-handedly shepherded the innings while wickets crumbled around him. His 149 was a statement of dominance, grit and maturity against Anderson and company on a spicy pitch. It wasn’t just a hundred, it was a redemption arc crafted in real time.
254* vs South Africa, Pune (2019)
If Kohli had doubters, this was his answer in decibels. A masterclass in patience, precision and authority. The knock was a lesson in batting marathon. 336 balls of chanceless brilliance. What made it special? No sixes, no theatrics, just pure, relentless accumulation. Captain Kohli batted South Africa into submission and walked off undefeated, proving you don’t need to sledge when your bat roars.
In Short
- Virat Kohli played 123 Test matches for India
- He scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85
- Kohli had been enduring poor form since 2024
Virat Kohli officially bid farewell to Test cricket on Monday, May 12, concluding a stellar 14-year journey in the game’s longest format.
The 36-year-old revealed his decision just weeks before India is set to face England in a five-match Test series, starting June 20 at Headingley in Leeds. Kohli announced via a heartfelt post on his Instagram profile.
LINK: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJiwQm0RbiM/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c6f8b7c6-357d-4dab-86bc-7e7f098e71f1
Inspiration for many.
Virat Kohli
Sharing a post on Instagram, Virat Kohli 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. #269, signing off,” the post further reads.
WE WILL MISS YOU KING KOHLI, THE “GOAT”