With an average of 54.97 from 2011–2019 dropping to 30.72 between 2020–2025, was Virat Kohli’s decision to retire a timely one?
Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect. He has left a legacy both as a Test batter and a Test captain. Kohli’s Test career was a combination of two halves. From his Test debut in 2011 till 2019, he transformed from a newbie to this format to a legendary Test batter walking into record books with his run-scoring spree. But from 2020 to 2025, Kohli, the Test batter, was in decline and struggling to live up to the high expectations and eventually calling time on his Test career.
Have a look at the stats of the two halves of Kohli’s Test career that show the rise and fall of the former India skipper.
Kohli among the Fab 4 from 2011 to 2019
From the period 2011 to 2019, Kohli moved into the Fab Four of Kane Williamson, Steven Smith and Joe Root. He averaged 54.97 and scored 27 tons, including seven double tons – the most by any India player. This phase culminated in Kohli taking over Test captaincy and helping India turn into world beaters in this format both home and away. Kohli led from the front as captain, scripting many memorable Test series wins, both home and away.
Kohli’s form dips post 2020
But from 2020, when the pandemic struck the world, and everything came to a standstill, Kohli, who was in the form of his life till then, had to endure a forced exile from cricket. When he returned, he was never the same Test batter again. He lost his consistency; and he lost the flair with which he dominated both pace and spin from 2011 to 2019. He became a walking wicket, except for a few brilliant innings here and there. The sound became louder about Kohli, the Test batter, losing his grip over his game in this format.
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Average tells the story
He averaged a poor 30.72 during 2020 to 2025, managing just 3 tons in 39 matches – an average of 3 tons every 13 Test matches. In comparison, he averaged 3 tons every 3.11 matches from 2011 to 2019. This itself explains how once the ton-maker was struggling to get the big scores in the second half of his Test career.
Kohli loses game against both spin and pace
Besides, a look at Virat Kohli’s performance against pace and spin during both these phases also showed a sharp decline.
Here’s how Kohli performed against pace and spin during these two phases.
Kohli’s average against both pace and spin in 2020-2025 was almost half in comparison with the 2011-2019 period. While he dominated pace and spin from 2011 to 2019, averaging 47.80 and 69.80 respectively, he averaged just 30.20 and 35.00 in the second phase of his Test career.
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Spin turns nemesis for Kohli
Also, he became susceptible to spin bowling in the second phase of his Test career, becoming victim of LBW frequently as reflexes became slow, and footwork became rigid. In the 2011-2019 phase, Kohli was dismissed 44 times in 180 innings by spinners, averaging one dismissal by a tweaker every 4.09 innings. But from 2020-2025, Kohli was dismissed by spinners 25 times in 67 innings, averaging one dismissal by the tweakers every 2.68 innings.
As his dismissals against spinners increased in 2020 to 2025, he lost fewer wickets to pacers during this phase as captain finally found a loophole in the legend’s game. He lost his wickets to pacers on an average 2.86 per innings from 2020 to 2025, while it was 2.26 innings per wicket from 2011 to 2019.
Kohli calls curtain on his Test career: A right move?
Virat Kohli was asked by selectors to rethink his retirement decision and prepare for the England series and turn his Test career around. However, Kohli chose to retire as the legend had come to terms with the fact that he hasn’t left much gas in the tank. He chose to walk away and make room for youngsters to fill up the No. 4 spot left by him. Team India have a few tough days ahead to find a suitable replacement for Kohli. But as life moves on, so does cricket. After Sachin Tendulkar, India found a No 4 in Kohli and now the baton is passed on to the Gills, Iyers, and Rahuls to fill up the big boots.
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