NEW DELHI: Former Australia batter David Warner shared a heartfelt tribute on social media after Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday. The 36-year-old Kohli brought an end to his illustrious red-ball career just days before India are scheduled to announce their squad for the upcoming tour of England. Since making his Test debut in 2011, Kohli played 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. His announcement came via Instagram, five days after skipper Rohit Sharma also bid farewell to the longest format.
"Absolute legend of our game," Warner wrote.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"I’ll never forget our first game against each other when we were young. I thought this guy was a serious competitor and going to be great, someone everyone would admire. You had to fill the shoes of some great players to ever play for India and carry the nation.
"Wow, did you not disappoint? Thank you for being you, which got the best out of all of us who competed against you. Enjoy the time now away from the whites. Enjoy the extra family time. Thanks @virat.kohli," Warner said.
Primarily batting at number four, Kohli notched up 30 Test centuries and 31 fifties, with a highest score of 254 not out.
"It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket," Kohli posted on his official feed, which has 271 million followers.
"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.
"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."
Known for his intensity and passion, Kohli also enjoyed a remarkable stint as India’s Test captain, leading the team to 40 wins in 68 matches with 17 defeats. He stepped down as captain in 2022. Among Indian captains, only MS Dhoni (27 wins in 60 Tests) and Sourav Ganguly (21 in 49) come close to his record.
"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," Kohli wrote.
"I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile."
Though Kohli remained a fierce competitor, his form in the last two years dipped, averaging just 32.56 in that period — a contrast to his peak years between 2011 and 2019, when he averaged close to 55.
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