Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 12: In a moment that caught fans and the cricketing world off guard, star India batter Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday morning, just minutes after being spotted with wife and actor Anushka Sharma at the Mumbai airport.
The couple, often under the spotlight, appeared relaxed and in good spirits, chatting affectionately and waving at photographers. Kohli sported a beige shirt with matching pants, while Anushka stood out in a striped pink-and-blue shirt paired with baggy jeans. Their airport appearance, now etched in memory, took on a poignant note soon after, when Kohli took to Instagram to bid farewell to the longest format of the game.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket… There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites… I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude… I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off,” Kohli wrote, drawing an emotional response from fans worldwide.
The 36-year-old’s Test career stands among the finest in Indian cricket. Over 123 matches, he amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar have scored more runs for India in Tests.
Debuting in 2011 against the West Indies, Kohli’s early struggles gave way to grit and flair, most notably with his breakthrough century in Adelaide in 2012. His batting prime between 2016–2019 was spectacular — 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at a staggering average of 66.79, highlighted by seven double centuries, a record for any Test captain.
Though his form dipped in the 2020s, Kohli had a revival in 2023 with 671 runs in eight Tests. His last ton came during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth — a parting reminder of his ability to rise to big occasions.
His journey was also defined by signature moments: the fearless 2014-15 tour of Australia, where he smashed 692 runs; the redemption series in England in 2018 with 593 runs; and match-defining knocks in Centurion, Edgbaston, and Melbourne. Beyond numbers, Kohli’s fierce leadership and relentless passion set new standards for Indian cricket.
As fans come to terms with the departure of one of the game’s modern greats, Kohli’s words echo the sentiment of a fulfilling chapter closed with pride and gratitude.