"Yaar ek dukh khatm nhi hota aur dusra aa jaata hai" - Fans react after Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test cricket ahead of WTC 2025-27 cycle

Fans online reacted as former India captain Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle on Monday, May 12. The 36-year-old was supposed to play in the upcoming five-Test series in England, but decided to end his career in the longest format. His last Test appearance came during India's 3-1 loss in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia.

Kohli's retirement comes days after Rohit Sharma bid adieu to the format on May 7. Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retired during the 2024-25 BGT after the third Test in Brisbane.

The Delhi batter finished his Test career as the fourth-highest scorer for India after Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. He amassed 9230 runs in 123 Tests, averaging 46.85, comprising 30 centuries and 31 fifties. Kohli remains India's most successful Test captain with 40 wins in 68 Tests, including 11 draws.

Fans on X congratulated Virat Kohli on his exceptional Test career, but the majority shared their heartbreak. One user wrote:

"ONE OF THE GREATEST IN MODERN ERA, THANK YOU KOHLI."

Another user commented:

"Heartbreak! ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED PLAYERS IN INDIAN TEST HISTORY - VIRAT KOHLI."

A third user added:

"Yaar ek dukh khatm nhi hota aur dusra aa jaata hai. Virat Kohli (Guys, one sorrow does not end and another one comes). Happy retirement."

Here are a few more reactions:

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"I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile" - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli wrote a message, confirming his retirement from the longest format on Monday. He captioned his Instagram post:

"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. 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. 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. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off," he added.

Kohli had already retired from T20Is after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Like Rohit Sharma, he will play only in ODIs.