'Your speech at Lord’s encapsulated your journey': Jay Shah's special message for Virat Kohli

ICC Chairman Jay Shah congratulated Virat Kohli on his retirement from Test cricket, posting on X (formerly Twitter):“Congratulations @imVkohli on a stellar Test career. Thank you for championing the purest format during the rise of T20 cricket and setting an extraordinary example in discipline, fitness, and commitment. Your speech at the Lord’s said it all - you played Tests with heart, grit, and pride."On Monday, Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, concluding a remarkable 14-year journey in the format. The star Indian batter retires with 9,230 runs from 123 matches at an average of 46.85.The BCCI paid tribute to Kohli on X, stating:“Thank You, Virat Kohli! A golden chapter in Test cricket ends, but your legacy will inspire generations! @imVkohli, former Team India captain, bids farewell to Test cricket. His service to #TeamIndia will always be remembered.”The ICC also shared a heartfelt message:“Whites off, crown intact. Virat Kohli departs from Test cricket, leaving behind a legacy like no other.”Kohli made his announcement via Instagram:“It’s been 14 years since I first donned the baggy blue in Test cricket. I never imagined the path this format would take me on. It tested me, shaped who I am, and taught life-long lessons. Test cricket is deeply personal — the unseen grind, long sessions, and quiet moments that stay with you.”He continued:“Walking away isn’t easy — but it feels right. I’ve given my all, and the format has given me more than I could ask for. I step away with immense gratitude — for the game, my teammates, and everyone who supported me. I’ll cherish this journey forever. #269, signing off.”Kohli retires as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Test history, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. His career includes 30 centuries and 31 fifties across 210 innings, with a top score of 254*.Debuting in June 2011 against the West Indies, Kohli had a tough start, scoring just 76 runs in his first five innings. However, he soon found form with his maiden century in Adelaide in 2012, scoring 116 runs. He was India’s top scorer on that tour with 300 runs from four Tests, even as senior players struggled.From 2011 to 2015, he scored 2,994 runs in 41 matches at an average of 44.03, including 11 tons and 12 half-centuries. His peak years came between 2016 and 2019, during which he amassed 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, featuring 16 centuries and 10 fifties. Notably, he recorded seven double hundreds — the most by a Test captain.The 2020s posed challenges for Kohli, with a dip in form yielding 2,028 runs from 39 matches at an average of 30.72. Nevertheless, he showed signs of resurgence in 2023, scoring 671 runs in eight matches at an average of 55.91.His final appearances came during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he made 190 runs in nine innings, including a century at Perth.Kohli's career is studded with major milestones, such as leading India to the ICC World Test Championship mace and producing defining performances in tough overseas conditions. Highlights include scoring 692 runs with four centuries during the 2014-15 tour of Australia and 593 runs in England in 2018.