¡®A cricket fan in me died today¡¯: Virat Kohli¡¯s Test retirement shatters fans, sparks emotional reactions as #Endofanera trends
Virat Kohli has brought his 14-year Test cricket journey to a close, marking the end of a defining era in Indian cricket. His retirement has sparked a wave of emotional tributes, with fans grieving what feels like the loss of something deeply personal.
India¡¯s cricket legend Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket, putting an end to weeks of speculation. On Monday morning, the ace batter took to social media to share a heartfelt note, confirming that he¡¯s retiring from the longest format of the game after 14 years of donning the whites. In his post, Kohli, 36, reflected on the journey that began in 2011 and spoke about what Test cricket has meant to him. His announcement has now sparked a wave of heartbreaking reactions from fans across the world.
'It will take some time to process': Fans react to Kohli's retirement post
Kohli¡¯s retirement triggered an outpouring of emotion online, with fans flooding social media to thank him for everything he¡¯s done for Indian cricket. Many were left heartbroken, saying Test cricket just won¡¯t be the same without him. Some even wrote that a part of their love for the game faded with his announcement. Hashtags like #Endofanera and #testcricket currently trending on X as tributes pour in for the iconic cricketer.
One user wrote, "Test cricket will never be the same. A cricket fan in me died today."
Test cricket will never be the same. A cricket fan in me died today pic.twitter.com/a9eIQM6aw5
¡ª Ash (@Ashesquee) May 12, 2025
Another fan shared, "The numbers will say 30 centuries. But they won¡¯t say how he batted like a gladiator at Perth or captained like a lion at Lord¡¯s. Indian Test Cricket saw its golden period under Virat Kohli".
The numbers will say 30 centuries.
¡ª Sagar (@sagarcasm) May 12, 2025
But they won¡¯t say how he batted like a gladiator at Perth, or captained like a lion at Lord¡¯s.
Indian Test Cricket saw it¡¯s golden period under Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/uh0wOD5FUz
A third user wrote, "It will take some time to process that neither Virat Kohli's aggressions nor Rohit Sharma's stump mics will be part of the Test matches. For what we will watch Test cricket now."
It will take some time to process that neither Virat Kohli aggressions nor Rohit Sharma stump mics will be part of the Test matches.
¡ª Selfless?? (@SelflessCricket) May 12, 2025
For what we will watch Test cricket now. ? pic.twitter.com/qK3prCUrop
A fourth fan added, "In the world where T20 cricket was emerging, you made us fall in love with Test Cricket. Test Cricket will miss you King. Thank you for everything."
In the world where T20 cricket was emerging, you made us fall in love with Test Cricket. Test Cricket will miss you King.
¡ª Aarav (@god_vk18) May 12, 2025
Thank you for everything ??
The GREA-TEST OF ALL TIME ? pic.twitter.com/GwL5WkczR3
Another emotional fan penned, "With 269 signing off, the test cricket fan in me is officially dead. It was a beautiful journey, deserving a better ending."
With 269 signing off, the test cricket fan in me is officially dead. It was a beautiful journey, deserved a better ending. pic.twitter.com/QNenjQIJC4
¡ª Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) May 12, 2025
¡°Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket, but you will always be my king until your last day,¡± noted one X user, capturing the emotional wave fans are riding after the announcement.
Virat Kohli retired from test cricket , but you will always be my king until your last day ?pic.twitter.com/kjcKAozLpb
¡ª ` (@was_kohlify) May 12, 2025
One user summed up the sentiment by writing, ¡°Indian cricket team: Ganguly gave it a spine. Kumble gave it a heart. Dhoni gave it brains. And Kohli gave it guts. Farewell from Test cricket, Virat Kohli, and thanks for all the memories.¡±
Indian cricket team:
¡ª Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) May 12, 2025
Ganguly gave it a spine.
Kumble gave it a heart.
Dhoni gave it brains.
And Kohli gave it guts.
Farewell from test cricket, Virat Kohli, and thanks for all the memories.
Virat Kohli's test retirement announcement post
In his emotional post announcing his retirement, Virat wrote, "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."
He added, "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 ¡ª 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.
The cricketer culminated with the words, "I¡¯m walking away with a heart full of gratitude ¡ª 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."
Virat Kohli officially bowed out of T20 Internationals on June 29, 2024, right after India¡¯s thrilling win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he confirmed that the final would be his last outing in T20Is. ¡°This was my last T20 game playing for India. We wanted to lift that cup,¡± he said, ending his T20I journey on the perfect note.
With his exit from Tests and T20Is, Kohli is now only active in ODIs and the IPL. He continues to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru, a franchise he¡¯s been loyal to since the inception of the league in 2008.
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