Virat Kohli, a name that captivated young fans and drew them to the television for the longest format of the game, has officially announced his retirement from Test cricket. Once deemed 'boring', this format has been revitalized under Kohli's captaincy, showcasing a vibrant and aggressive style of play. His leadership fostered a formidable pace attack and instilled confidence in his team, transforming them into a competitive force against top international sides.

While Kohli's statistics as a player are impressive, his contributions as a captain are equally noteworthy. Dinesh Karthik, a former Indian wicketkeeper, recently spoke to Sky Sports, highlighting Kohli's exceptional leadership qualities. He stated,

"We have had some legends of the game. The Gavaskars, the Tendulkars and Virat Kohli is right up there with some of those names, Rahul Dravid and all of them. But more than what he did with the bat, I think it was how he captained Team India, the kind of fear he was able to inflict in opposition, but most importantly for the game of cricket, the intensity with which he played across five days, that was the most admirable part."

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Kohli made his retirement announcement five months after the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he faced significant challenges. Throughout the series, he struggled with his form, often edging balls to the slip cordon or the wicketkeeper. Although he found his rhythm again in ODIs after the BGT, he chose to retire before the upcoming tour to England, marking the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle. Kohli leaves behind a remarkable legacy as India's most successful Test captain, achieving 40 victories in 68 matches. His leadership led India to a historic series win in Australia and a drawn series in England. Over his Test career, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs, including 5,864 runs as captain, with an impressive average of 54.80, surpassing legends like Smith, Border, and Ponting.