Virat Kohli's Last Test: A Perfect Ending to a Wonderful Red-Ball Career On May 12, 2025, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli stunned the cricketing world when he announced his retirement from Test cricket via Instagram. The announcement came less than five weeks before India's Test series in England, and just when fans began to reflect on Kohli's last match in whites—a dominant display against New Zealand in Dharamsala in March 2024—they received this shocking news.

Virat Kohli's Last Test Match – Date, Opponent, and Stats

• Date: March 9–13, 2024
• Opponent: New Zealand
• Venue: HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala
• Match Format: 2nd Test of the India vs New Zealand series

Performance:

• 1st Innings: 38 runs
• 2nd Innings: Did not bat (India won by an innings and 55 runs)
• Match Result: India won the match and sealed the series 2-0
• Series Contribution: Kohli scored 171 runs in 3 innings during the series

This marked Kohli’s 113th and final Test match for India, bringing an end to a remarkable red-ball career spanning over 13 years.

Kohli finished the two-match series with 171 runs in three innings that gave flashes of the class that had defined his red-ball career. The series' performances encapsulated the skepticism and desire to give until the end to stifle the naysayers. His exit creates an enormous void in India's middle order as the team heads into a new World Test Championship cycle.

Also read: Top 5 angry moments of Virat Kohli in Test cricket

A Career That Changed Indian Test Cricket

Kohli started his Test journey in 2011, and in the subsequent years, he became one of the best batters of his generation. With more than 8,800 runs, 29 centuries, and a test captaincy record of 40 wins, Kohli changed India's perceptions of fitness, aggression, and consistency in the longest form of the game.

He brought a level of intensity to the field whether they were in Australia, England, or on Indian soil, and he always wore his love for Test cricket on his sleeve. Some of his best knocks came during some of the pressure situations, like the centuries at Adelaide in 2014 and Nottingham in 2018.

His last Test may not have featured a century, but it epitomized everything Kohli stood for - dedication, competitive spirit, and pride in his recognition of playing for India. As the team prepares for a future without its modern-day great, Kohli's presence to influence will exist in future generations.