Virat Kohli's Surprise Test Retirement: A Cricket Era Ends

In a move that has left the cricketing fraternity in shock, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, just as the team prepares for the England tour. Kohli, revered as a pillar of Indian batting for over a decade, has left fans and colleagues reflecting on his illustrious career.

Fans flocked to the Arun Jaitley Stadium earlier this year to witness Kohli's grand return to Delhi cricket after 2012, albeit it turned out to be his final red-ball appearance. Even though the match didn't see Kohli at his run-scoring best, the overwhelming support for the 'Chase Master' was a testament to his enduring popularity.

Monday saw Kohli pen down an emotional farewell to Test cricket, where he stands as India's fourth-highest run scorer with 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries. His announcement follows his batting companion Rohit Sharma's exit from the format during Australia's tour, raising questions on the trajectory of Test cricket within the Indian setup.

(With inputs from agencies.)