‘You Changed Mindsets’: Social Media Erupts With Tributes As Virat Kohli Bids Goodbye To Tests

Virat Kohli Retirement From Test Cricket: Kohli announced his retirement from the Tests, with tributes pouring in from cricketers, commentators and IPL franchises worldwide.

Virat Kohli Retirement From Test Cricket: "As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets," said Irfan Pathan for Virat Kohli.

Source : PTI

Virat Kohli Retirement From Test Cricket: Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 (Monday. The 36-year-old revealed his decision ahead of India’s upcoming five-Test series against England, set to begin from June 20 in Leeds. Tributes and well-wishes flooded social media from around the globe as the star Indian batter brought an end to his illustrious 14-year journey in Test cricket.

Kohli shared the news via a heartfelt message on his official Instagram handle. Notably, Kohli’s decision to hang up his boots from the longest format of the game comes on the heels of Team India captain Rohit Sharma’s call to draw curtains on his Test career.

Following Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket, tributes poured in on social media from the BCCI, cricketers around the world, commentators, and IPL franchises, honouring the legendary batter.

“Congratulations on a phenomenal Test career, Virat Kohli. As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets. You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard. A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket” wrote the former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan.

Here's a look at some of the social media reactions on Virat Kohli's Test restirement:

Congratulations on a phenomenal Test career, Virat Kohli.
As captain, you didn’t just win matches—you changed mindsets.
You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard.
A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket.#ThankYouVirat pic.twitter.com/rvFAulcMSQ

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 12, 2025

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗩𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗼𝗵𝗹𝗶! 🙌

An era ends in Test cricket but the legacy will continue FOREVER! 🫡🫡@imVkohli, the former Team India Captain retires from Test cricket.

His contributions to #TeamIndia will forever be cherished! 👏 👏 pic.twitter.com/MSe5KUtjep

— BCCI (@BCCI) May 12, 2025

Congratulations on your astonishing test career @imVkohli
Test cricket will miss you and your aggression forever. Thanks for all the amazing memories. Best wishes for your future Virat 🇮🇳🤗#ViratKohli #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/U1F5muRsvb

— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) May 12, 2025

I would have liked to see #ViratKohli go out of test cricket before a packed stadium. But since that is not to be let us applaud him wherever we are. He told a generation weaned on T20 cricket that test cricket is cool and aspirational. And for that, the game owes him big time.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) May 12, 2025

You made it feel like Absolute Cinema, every day out of five.

Thank you, Virat Kohli 🇮🇳👑 pic.twitter.com/5yhpDAWTtK

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 12, 2025

India legend Virat Kohli has officially retired from Test cricket 🇮🇳

Thanks for the battles over the years, @imVkohli 🤝 pic.twitter.com/Pha6IFO7ab

— England's Barmy Army 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) May 12, 2025

A career that's a testament to Test cricket's spirit!
Thank You, Virat Kohli! 🇮🇳#WhistlePodu pic.twitter.com/M3iUaKnbek

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 12, 2025

Cap ➡️ 269
Memories ➡️ Infinite

Thank You Kohli! ❤️#PunjabKings #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/EWmuVyPXJ9

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) May 12, 2025

Test Cricket will be always Miss you 💔💔 Indian Test Virat Kohli

END OF AN ERA #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/Ghm6Rpl6cp

— Ashish Singh (@AshishSinghKiJi) May 12, 2025

The curtain falls on a monumental Test Era

But his legacy lives on, etched in time and carved in pride. ♾️🥹

Thank you, Virat Kohli, for the fire, the bravery, and the unmatched passion. ❤️‍🔥

You didn’t just play this format, you elevated it. 👑🫡#ThankYouVirat #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/IdPCXoNDfu

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 12, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Yashasvi Jaiswal (@yashasvijaiswal28)

Congrats to my biscotti @imVkohli on an epic Test career! Your determination & skill have always inspired me. True legend! ❤️🙌🏻 #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/2DnNLRzSrI

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 12, 2025

Virat, we’ve shared that era… faced the grind together, lived the long days of Test cricket with pride. Your batting in whites is special — not just in numbers, but in intent, intensity, and inspiration.
Good luck going forward #ViratKohli #TestCricket @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/GSh1Ca6I3G

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 12, 2025