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Virat Kohli's legendary Test career: A look at records and milestones as retirement looms

Virat Kohli's legendary Test career: A look at records and milestones as retirement looms

Business Upturn10-05-2025

By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on May 10, 2025, 14:16 IST
Amid reports that Virat Kohli has expressed a desire to retire from Test cricket, fans and analysts alike are reflecting on one of the greatest red-ball careers in Indian cricket history. The 36-year-old has reportedly informed the BCCI of his intent to move on from the longest format, although the board has urged him to reconsider, especially with the crucial England Test series on the horizon. Test Debut to Present: A 14-Year Journey
Virat Kohli made his Test debut on June 20, 2011, against the West Indies in Kingston. Since then, he has played 123 matches, scoring 9230 runs at an average of over 48, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He stands as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests and seventh most-capped Test player. Captaincy Record
Kohli's tenure as Test captain from 2014 to 2022 redefined India's approach to the format. He captained 68 matches, winning 40, making him India's most successful Test captain. His leadership saw India dominate at home and win historic series overseas, including the famous win in Australia in 2018–19. World Test Championship (WTC) Legacy
In the WTC era (2019-present), Kohli has been a crucial pillar for India. In 46 WTC matches, he has scored 2617 runs, including 5 centuries and 11 fifties. He also led India to the final of the inaugural WTC (2019-21), where they finished runners-up. Kohli's Performance Under Various Captains Captain Matches Innings Runs Avg. Best 100s/50s MS Dhoni 30 53 1960 40.00 169 6/10 Virender Sehwag 1 2 138 69.00 116 1/0 Virat Kohli 68 113 5864 54.80 254* 20/18 KL Rahul 2 4 45 15.00 24 0/0 Jasprit Bumrah 3 6 159 31.80 100* 1/0 Rohit Sharma 19 32 1064 34.32 186 2/3 Kohli's Impact
From iconic centuries in Adelaide and Johannesburg to his indomitable double century against South Africa in Ranchi, Kohli has left a legacy of intent, aggression, and consistency. His technical prowess and mental fortitude elevated India's overseas performances and brought a renewed focus to fitness and fast-bowling depth.
As fans await a final decision on his future in Test cricket, Kohli's numbers already place him among India's all-time greats, ensuring his legacy in the format remains unmatched.
Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.

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Carey threw the ball and hit the stumps, Australia appealed and the umpire, who hadn't called for the end of the over, raised his finger. There was outrage in the ground and the Long Room where the florid anger of many MCC members was accompanied by booing and shouts of 'shame' as the Australians walked past. Warner and Usman Khawaja were even confronted by heated England supporters. 'It was a series with such high emotion,' Cummins says. 'Everyone was so wound up but my gut reaction was pretty similar to what I feel now. If you take all the emotion away it's just a simple out and you don't need to make it any bigger. It's out, move on. I've seen it happen before.' Advertisement When Cummins missed the Champions Trophy this year his stand-in, Smith, withdrew a run‑out appeal after Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad ambled out of his crease in a group game. It suggested some kind of change in Australian attitudes, but Cummins says: 'I can't remember that specifically. Sorry. I think it was slightly different circumstances but, look, we want to play hard and fair and I think over my tenure we've got it right just about every time.' Would he do it again? 'Yes,' Cummins says firmly of Bairstow's stumping. The view in the Australian camp is that England would do the same and they 'tried it three times' previously. All this is said calmly, five months before Ashes hostilities resume in Australia. Cummins is vague about England's excitement around Jacob Bethell – he has heard the talk 'a little bit,' adding: 'When he batted [on his Test debut in New Zealand] was it three? I haven't seen much.' He also glosses over England's current uncertainty around their injury‑riddled bowling attack. 'I don't really care. It feels so long away.' Cummins admits that his all-conquering team are approaching the end of an era. 'Yes. No doubt. We've got quite a few players who are past their mid-30s and there seems to be a natural attrition rate into the late‑30s. If you'd asked me a year or two ago I would have said: 'It's going to be a huge change. There's a little bit to be worried about.' But we've seen Josh Inglis, Sam Konstas, [Nathan] McSweeney debut throughout [Australia's] summer. [Beau] Webster's come in plus a few others have debuted in white-ball cricket. I don't think the transition will be as jarring as we first thought.' Advertisement Does he have concerns about the future of Test cricket – the format he loves most? 'Yes and no. In Australia, no. Each summer it seems to get stronger and stronger. The ticket sales for the Ashes are just berserk the last week. But that's not the reality for many Test-playing nations and one of the beauties about Test cricket is playing in totally different conditions with different challenges. I'd hate Test cricket to turn into only a couple of nations.' In 25 years will Australia and England still be playing Tests against Pakistan, West Indies and South Africa? 'It's really hard to say. I hope so. But if we just let things play out, probably not. There needs to be some intervention and finding a way – maybe its dedicated windows for franchise cricket. I really hope so because they are cricket-loving nations as well. They're always going to have good players and [offer] a tough challenge.' Can Cummins play for another five years? 'Yes, I'd hope so. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are a couple of years older than me, but they don't show any signs of slowing up. I'm trying to look after myself and I'd love to play in my mid-30s. I feel great and physically as good as I have in a few years. I love the job and just want to keep doing it – particularly in Test cricket. I want to keep playing for a long time and do it with good people while making it fun and hopefully winning along the way.'

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