The 36-year-old confirmed the rumours of his Test retirement - first reported on Saturday - with a media release on Monday morning.
"It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket," said the veteran.
"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."
On Saturday, it was reported that Kohli was in conversations with the BCCI about retiring from the format before the highly anticipated five-match tour of England in June. While the former captain was expected to be part of the touring squad, Kohli has not been shining in the Test match arena of late.
A century against Australia in Perth in November 2024 was his first in over 16 months. Over the last two years, Kohli has averaged just 32.56 in Test whites, arguably prompting his decision to shelve his baggy blue.
Kohli first captained the India Test side in 2014. He would lead India through a purple patch, where they won 40 out of 68 Tests, losing only 17, making him India's most successful Test captain.
The stalwart retires with impressive Test numbers of 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, along with 30 centuries.
Virat Kohli has informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that he is considering retirement from Test cricket ahead of India's crucial red-ball tour of England starting in June.
Former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has called time on his Test career, confirming that he will no longer play in the longest form of the game.
The IPL 2025 season could face potential disruption as tension mounts between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of missile strikes carried out by the Indian army in the early hours of Wednesday on sites across the border.
India captain Rohit Sharma has announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect but will continue to be available for his country in the ODI format.
