Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, in an emotional post that left fans stunned. As the cricket world reacted, tributes poured in for his illustrious career. Kohli is credited with keeping Test cricket alive, and he’s already moved on from T20 cricket.
Kohli is the second-highest international century scorer globally, with 82 centuries across all formats. A clip from one of his interviews is going viral now. In it, Kohli reveals what drove him to achieve his goals. He told a media channel, “I don’t want to be remembered as just another player. When I retire, I want the young players to say they want to be like me.”
Kohli explained that scoring centuries had become a habit for him, almost an addiction. “When I’m batting, and I reach 60 or 70, I go into a different zone, determined to score a century. This habit has helped me over the past few years, and I’ll keep trying to do it.”
The interview clip is from Kohli’s early days, and now he’s ending his Test career as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer. Kohli played 123 Test matches, scoring 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.
A Legacy of Runs
Kohli’s stats are a testament to his incredible career. Across 550 matches in all three formats, he’s scored 82 centuries. In ODIs alone, he has 51 centuries, making him the leading centurion in the format. His achievements will be remembered for years to come.
Kohli’s determination to be more than just another player has driven him to inspire others. As he moves forward, his legacy will continue to influence the cricket world.