`Will miss u cheeks`: Gautam Gambhir opens up on Virat Kohli`s Test retirement

Team India stalwart Virat Kohli on Monday announced his retirement from the longest format of the game. Following his retirement, head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed the veteran by saying, `a man with lion`s passion! Will miss u cheeks…`.

A man with lion’s passion!
Will miss u cheeks…. pic.twitter.com/uNGW7Y8Ak6

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) May 12, 2025

India will begin their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle with a series against England. The side will lock horns against England for a five-match Test series, scheduled to start from June 20 onwards.

Debuting for India in 2008, Kohli has featured in 123 Test matches. He concluded his Test career by smashing 9,230 runs with a career-best score of an unbeaten 254 runs. The veteran also had 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries to his name.

Also Read: “Congrats to my biscotti”: AB de Villiers and cricket fraternity hail Virat Kohli on remarkable test career

One of his top records in Test cricket is the most number of double centuries for India. The veteran tops the list of Indian cricketers with the most double centuries in Test cricket. Having played 123 Tests, Kohli has scored seven double tons, followed by former cricketer Virender Sehwag, who has six double centuries.

Under his captaincy, Team India dominated the top spot on the Test team rankings for 42 consecutive months. During the captaincy stint, the Indian team also stayed unbeaten in Test series at home and won 10 out of 11 series under him. Standing as the most successful Test captain for India, he has registered 40 victories, 17 losses and 11 draws. His stint as an Indian captain in Test cricket came to an end with a win percentage of 58.82

His decision to step away from the format came days after Team India skipper Rohit Sharma drew curtains on his red-ball career.

Earlier, following India`s T20 World Cup 2024-triumph, Kohli hung his boots from the shortest format of the game.

Having established himself as one of the greatest batsmen to have ever played the game, the veteran will continue to represent India in the One-Day Internationals. Kohli`s absence from India`s Test squad has left a huge void to fill.

(With ANI Inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day