Tue May 13 03:52:56 UTC 2025: ## Kohli Retires from Test Cricket to Prioritize Family
**New Delhi, May 14** – Virat Kohli, former captain of the Indian cricket team, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, bringing an end to a highly decorated career. The 35-year-old amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches, maintaining an average of 46.85. Kohli will continue to play One Day Internationals (ODIs), having already retired from the Twenty20 International (T20I) format following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory.
Reports suggest Kohli initially planned to announce his retirement on May 7th, the same day Rohit Sharma retired, but delayed the announcement due to the ongoing Operation Sindoor and military conflict with Pakistan. Following a ceasefire, he informed the BCCI and selectors of his decision.
A key factor in Kohli’s retirement is his desire to spend more time with his family, including wife Anushka Sharma and their two children. He has frequently traveled to England to be with them, and reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with a recent BCCI directive limiting the time family members could spend with the team during the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
In a previous statement, Kohli emphasized the importance of family life, describing it as a grounding force that allows him to approach his game with renewed focus and commitment. He expressed frustration over the intrusion of family matters into public discussion, highlighting the importance of maintaining a normal family life outside the pressures of professional cricket.
First Piper 