Virat Kohli retires: 'It's not easy, but it feels right' - complete statement

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, ending a distinguished 14-year career in the format. His decision comes ahead of India’s five-Test series in England starting on June 20 at Headingley, signalling the start of a new cycle in the World Test Championship.In the statement announcing the retirement, Kohli said, "It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever."As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for."I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way."I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.#269, signing off."This announcement follows closely after fellow veteran Rohit Sharma also retired from Test cricket. As a result, India will enter the next WTC cycle with a revised batting lineup and two of its most experienced leaders in over a decade.Kohli’s Test career kicked off with his debut against West Indies in Kingston in June 2011. Over 123 matches, he scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.He leaves as India’s most successful Test captain, having led the team in 68 matches with 40 wins.Between 2016 and 2019, Kohli enjoyed one of his most prolific periods, amassing 4,208 runs in 43 matches at an average of 66.79, with 16 centuries and 10 fifties, establishing himself as a leading figure in Test cricket.