Samira Vishwas
Tezzbuzz|09-08-2025
Kohli’s decision to step away from the longest format left a noticeable mark on the cricketing community, including among his fellow players.
Virat Kohli‘s decision to retire from Test cricket in May this year marked the conclusion of one of the most distinguished careers in the history of the format. Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Tests, establishing himself as one of the most influential figures in red-ball cricket for nearly a decade.
He was part of the ‘Fab Four’, alongside Kane Williamson, Joe Root, and Steve Smith, a group that set the bar for consistency and class in Test cricket.However, his performances was not upto the mark, with the 2024/25 season being particularly difficult for him. He scored only one century and failed to make fifty in three series, including home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, as well as an away series in Australia.
Kohli’s decision to step away from the longest format left a noticeable mark on the cricketing community, including among his fellow players. Kans Williamson admitted that he was caught off guard by the news.
He acknowledged that Kohli’s choice to retire, even with his recent decline in form, was a testament to the lasting impact of his career.“You don’t often think about it, but when you see some of your opponents and teammates making such decisions, you realise, ‘wow, it’s been quite some time,’ and you start to feel that you’re not getting any younger,” Williamson shared with the Independent.
“At some point, it becomes a reality. For someone like Virat, who stepped away on his own terms and achieve what he has for the game, was incredible.
It’s truly special. Everyone was taken aback because you never really expect it to happen, but it does. I’m more conscious of that than most – and that’s a good thing,” the former Black caps captain said.