Virat Kohli Retires: Test Cricket Era Ends

**The End of an Era: Cricketing World Honors Virat Kohli as He Bids Farewell to Test Cricket** The cricketing world is reverberating with tributes as India's legendary batsman, Virat Kohli, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, marking the end of an illustrious 14-year career in the longest format of the game. Kohli, aged 36, concluded his Test journey with an impressive 9,230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 46.85 and notching up 30 centuries. Although stepping away from Test and T20 formats, Kohli will continue to play in One Day Internationals. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed its admiration for Kohli’s remarkable career on 'X', stating, "An era ends in Test cricket but the legacy will continue FOREVER!" The post recognized him as the former captain of Team India and extended appreciation for his profound contributions. The International Cricket Council (ICC) also lauded Kohli, acknowledging his status as one of India's Test cricket legends. "One of India's Test greats calls time in the longest format. Whites off, crown intact. Virat Kohli bids goodbye to Test cricket, leaving behind an unmatched legacy," the ICC remarked. Kohli's Indian Premier League team paid homage to their former captain, expressing how much his presence will be missed in Test cricket. "The walk, those shots, those expressions, those celebrations. We’ll miss them all," the team stated, celebrating his spectacular contribution to the sport. Ajinkya Rahane, Kohli's former teammate, took to social media with a heartwarming message. "It's been a special journey sharing the field with you, @virat.kohli. So many great memories and partnerships together. Congratulations on an amazing Test career!" he wrote. Reflecting on Kohli's influence, former India pacer Irfan Pathan hailed him as "a true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket," commending his leadership style. "As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets. You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard," Pathan observed. The Delhi Capitals, Kohli's IPL franchise, echoed the sense of disbelief shared by many fans: "We weren’t ready for this." As Virat Kohli steps away from Test cricket, the world of cricket pauses to celebrate a career marked not only by exceptional talent and statistics but also by a legacy that has transformed Indian Test cricket forever.