Saluting Virat Kohli: The Wonder Boy From Delhi Who Redefined Indian Test side
Published on: May 12, 2025 5:47 pm IST|Updated on: May 13, 2025 9:49 am IST
India as a nation has suffered a lot in the last 10 days or so. The nation is in the process of overcoming the current war situation against Pakistan, and in the midst of it, stalwart batter Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. i.e., Test cricket. This news is nothing short of a bombshell for cricket fans around the globe. The global icon Virat Kohli already announced his retirement from T20I cricket last year after winning the coveted T20 World Cup in the West Indies, and now he has bid adieu to Test cricket as well.
Let’s take a look at his career numbers,
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 123 |
| Innings Batted | 210 |
| Runs Scored | 9,230 |
| Batting Average | 46.85 |
| Highest Score | 254* vs Sri Lanka in Delhi |
| Centuries | 30 |
| Half-Centuries | 31 |
| Double Centuries | 7 |
| Strike Rate | 55.57 |
| Not Outs | 13 |
| Matches as Captain | 68 |
| Wins as Captain | 40 |
After 14 glorious years of serving the nation in the Whites, the legend of Virat Kohli will now solely focus on one-day cricket, a format he has excelled in with pure dominance. As he brought down curtains on his fabulous Test career, let’s take a look at the highlights of Virat Kohli’s glorious career—the debut, the peak, and the downfall, all in a nutshell.
The Debut: A Shaky Start (2011-2012)
Kohli made his Test debut on June 20, 2011, against West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica. Coming off a successful ODI stint, expectations were high, but his first Test series was far from ideal. He managed just 76 runs in five innings, struggling against the pace and bounce of Caribbean pitches.
However, Kohli’s breakthrough moment came during the 2011-12 Australia tour, where he scored his maiden Test century (116 runs) in Adelaide. While India suffered a humiliating 4-0 series loss, Kohli’s fighting knock stood out, proving he had the temperament for Test cricket.
Peak Kohli: The Golden Era (2016-2019)
Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli was at his absolute beast, dominating world cricket like few had before. His aggressive batting, fitness revolution, and leadership transformed India into a formidable Test side.
Captaincy and Milestones
- Kohli took over as full-time Test captain in 2015, following MS Dhoni’s retirement.
- He led India to their first-ever Test series win in Australia (2018-19).
- Under his leadership, India held the No. 1 Test ranking for five consecutive years (2016-2021). When he took India’s captaincy, the team was reeling at no. 7 in Test rankings. It was a sensational effort from the leader Kohli to take the team to the numero uno spot from the 7th rank.
- Kohli became the only captain to score seven double centuries in Test cricket.
Batting Dominance
- Kohli’s best phase came between 2016-2019, where he amassed 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79.
- His highest Test score, 254 against South Africa in 2019*, remains one of his finest knocks.
- He scored 16 centuries in this period, including memorable tons in England, Australia, and South Africa.
Kohli’s aggressive approach, combined with his ability to play long innings, made him one of the most feared batters in world cricket.
The Downfall: Struggles and Retirement (2020-2025)
Post-2020, or you can say, post-COVID, Kohli was never the same again. The COVID-19 hiatus didn’t go well with the superstar batter, as his Test form saw a significant dip. His once-dominant batting started showing cracks, and his numbers took a massive toll.
Dip in Form
- Before 2020, Kohli averaged 54 in Tests. After 2020, his average dropped to 30 and further deteriorated to 27.
- He struggled against swing and seam movement, particularly in England and South Africa.
- His last Test century came in 2024, but his overall consistency faded.
Captaincy Exit and Retirement
- Kohli stepped down as Test captain in January 2022, following India’s series loss in South Africa. There were a lot of controversies surrounding his decision, but at last the 36-year-old decided to step down.
- His final Test series was the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he managed just 190 runs in five matches.
- On May 12, 2025, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending a glorious 14-year journey.
What’s next for Virat Kohli?
One of the most influential and inspiring careers in Test cricket has come to an end. What’s next from here for the King? Well, he will play the remainder of the Tata IPL 2025 representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Once the IPL is done, he will rest for almost two and a half months before prepping for the away ODI series against Bangladesh in August. As of now, the 3-match ODI series against Bangladesh is the only dish served on Virat Kohli’s plate.
