Indian cricket’s modern-day icon, Virat Kohli, shocked the cricket fraternity by officially calling it quits from Test cricket. Just six days ago, his compatriot, Rohit Sharma, called curtains on his Test career, and the speculations of Kohli retiring from Tests started doing the rounds as well.
All those widespread speculations turned into reality as Virat Kohli brought the curtains down on a remarkable red-ball career that spanned over 14 years. The former Indian skipper, who made his Test debut in 2011, made the announcement via social media. His announcement stunned the fans and fellow athletes around the world.
Virat Kohli’s influence stretches far beyond the cricket field, without a doubt. The veteran is a global sporting icon and is respected and admired across cultures and continents. From fellow athletes to global entertainers, reactions poured in after his retirement news spread like wildfire.
Novak Djokovic reacts to Virat Kohli’s Test retirement
One of the most heartfelt tributes came from tennis legend Novak Djokovic, who took to his official Instagram handle to write, “Incredible Innings.” The duo share mutual admiration and a personal friendship. In a previous interview with the BCCI, Kohli had shared how he and Djokovic first connected:
“I was just looking at his Instagram and happened to press ‘Message.’ That’s when I saw that he had already messaged me! At first, I thought it was fake, but it was actually Novak. We’ve been in touch ever since.”
IShowSpeed releases raw emotions after Virat Kohli retired from Tests
Another surprising but enthusiastic reaction came from global YouTube sensation IShowSpeed. He is known for his energetic personality and viral content on YouTube. Notably, he wore an Indian jersey with Virat Kohli’s name on the back and even travelled to India to watch the 2023 World Cup, showing his admiration for the batting great.
Meanwhile, a clip now making rounds on social media shows Speed reacting emotionally to Kohli’s retirement post. “All the legends are retiring,” he echoed. “Why would he retire, bro! He just won an ICC!” he added, referring to Team India’s recent Champions Trophy.
🚨| WATCH: Speed reacts to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli officially retiring from Test cricket 🤯 pic.twitter.com/wRN99Zd8J3
— Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) May 12, 2025
Also read: Three Senior Pros who are expected to retire from Tests after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
Harry Kane reacts to Virat Kohli’s Test retirement
England football star Harry Kane also reacted to the cricketer’s Test retirement. When Virat Kohli dropped a long retirement note on Instagram, the Bayern Munich striker commented on the post with two emojis (Goat and a red heart).
Conor McGregor pays a rich tribute to Virat Kohli
Conor McGregor, the Irish MMA star and the first UFC fighter to hold titles in two weight classes at the same time, reserved the highest respect for Virat Kohli. He shared a message on his Instagram story and wrote, “Enjoy retirement, brother Virat! Huge congrats on a stellar cricket career!”
Virat Kohli ended his illustrious Test career with outstanding numbers. He played 123 Test matches for the country, scoring 9,230 runs at an impressive average of 46.85. The experienced campaigner hammered as many as 30 centuries, 31 fifties, and 7 double centuries.
