India’s batting talisman Virat Kohli on Monday officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, ending weeks of speculation around his future in the format.
Decoding Virat Kohli's #269 - What Does It Mean?
Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies, became the 269th player to represent India in Test cricket
The 36-year-old made the revelation through an emotional Instagram post, drawing curtains on a 14-year-long red-ball journey that defined modern Indian cricket.
What Does #269 Means?
Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies, became the 269th player to represent India in Test cricket — a number he etched in his farewell message: “#269, signing off.”
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. 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,” wrote Kohli.
“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right,” he added.
Kohli retires with a formidable 9,230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 46.85 with 30 hundreds and 31 fifties, including memorable innings across Australia, England, and South Africa.
His aggressive style of captaincy and unrelenting standards played a crucial role in India’s rise to the top of the Test rankings during his tenure as captain.
The former India skipper has already retired from T20 Internationals and will now continue playing only ODIs.
“I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. 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 in his post.
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