Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, May 12: Hours after Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed sadness over not seeing the star batsman in action during England’s upcoming summer series.
“Sad we won't get to see @imVkohli one last time this summer,” Sunak wrote on X, hailing Kohli as “a legend of the game: a superb batsman, an astute captain and a formidable competitor who always understood the true value of Test cricket.”
Kohli, 36, made his Test debut in 2011 and went on to become one of the game’s greats, scoring 9,230 runs with 30 centuries and 31 fifties across 123 Tests. He captained India in 68 matches, winning 40 of them — the most by any Indian skipper.
In an emotional Instagram post, Kohli reflected on his 14-year journey, calling the format a “deeply personal” experience. “I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for… #269, signing off,” he wrote.
Though stepping away from Tests, Kohli will continue playing ODIs, with a focus on the 2027 World Cup.