CNN
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Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest players, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore buggy blue in Test Cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me. It tested me, shaped me, taught me the lessons I would carry for the rest of my life.”
“There’s something deep and personal about playing with white people. Quiet ground sand, long days, small moments that no one sees will stay with you forever. When you leave this form, it’s not easy, but I feel that’s right.
“I walk with a heart full of gratitude. For the game, for the people I shared the field, and for everyone who made me feel like I saw along the way. I always look back at my testing career with a smile.”
After making his Test debut in India in 2011, Kohli quickly became one of the most skilled batters in world cricket.
He won his first Test 100 in Adelaide, Australia in 2011, and soon became the team’s captain.
In his time leading India, he had 40 wins from 68 Tests and became the most won Indian male captain in the five-day format.
The 36-year-old will retire as the fourth-most successful Test Captain in terms of victory behind South Africa’s Graeme Smith (53) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve War (41).
Outside of the captain, Kohli was a strong runner on the Test side of India.
He retired from 123 tests to his name, including the 30th and 50s, with an average of 46.85 at 9,230 runs. His 30th century is fourth by Indian players.
Kohli had already retired from the T20 format of cricket, which India had done after winning the T20 World Cup last year.
Kohli’s decision comes days after India’s test captain Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the format.