AB de Villiers, Pietersen, Jayasuriya & sporting world greet one of India’s greatest cricketer on his Test retirement
The 36-year-old Kohli brings down the curtains on a prolific red-ball career, spanning 14 years and 123 Tests.
Having made his Test debut against the West Indies on June 20, 2011, in Kingston, Kohli ended his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 Tests, averaging 46.85 with 30 centuries. He was also India’s most successful batter in the previous decade between 2010 and 2019. Kohli was the third-highest Test run-getter in the period, piling on 7202 runs at 54.97 average and 27 centuries, the most any batter in the time.
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Since his Test retirement announcement, reactions from the cricketing and the whole sporting fraternity have been pouring in. Here are some of the reactions:
Congrats to my biscotti @imVkohli on an epic Test career! Your determination & skill have always inspired me. True legend! ❤️🙌🏻 #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/2DnNLRzSrI
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 12, 2025
Whites off, crown intact 👑
Virat Kohli bids goode to Test cricket, leaving behind an unmatched legacy 👏
✍️: https://t.co/VjuXwUrl8P pic.twitter.com/6apbXkubQ0
— ICC (@ICC) May 12, 2025
All the best on your Test retirement @imVkohli While the world celebrates your cricketing brilliance and records, what I admire most is your unwavering commitment to fitness and the sacrifices you’ve made behind the scenes
— Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) May 12, 2025
I would have liked to see #ViratKohli go out of test cricket before a packed stadium. But since that is not to be let us applaud him wherever we are. He told a generation weaned on T20 cricket that test cricket is cool and aspirational. And for that, the game owes him big time.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 12, 2025
Numbers will not define Kohli’s Test legacy. They’re just a small fraction of what he did in/for the format.Virat, you made a whole generation fall in love with Test cricket again. Thank You for your contribution.Test Cricket will be poorer in your absence. 🙌
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 12, 2025
Virat?!?! 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 12, 2025
Unmatched passion, unmatched energy, and a fight that was awe-inspiring. Test cricket had a heartbeat, and it was you, @imVkohli.
From my debut to series wins and double hundreds, the memories created on the field will always be special. And the conversations and the time spent… pic.twitter.com/QrAPo4UCVW
— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) May 12, 2025
Biggest brand of the modern cricket era who gave it all for cricket’s oldest format. Test cricket owes that debt to Virat Kohli. 🙏🙏🙏
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 12, 2025
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But his legacy lives on, etched in time and carved in pride. ♾️🥹
Thank you, Virat Kohli, for the fire, the bravery, and the unmatched passion. ❤️🔥
You didn’t just play this format, you elevated it. 👑🫡#ThankYouVirat #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/IdPCXoNDfu
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 12, 2025
