India, March 21 -- Virat Kohli's decision to step away from Test cricket last year caught the cricketing world off guard, especially with many believing he still had more to offer in the longest format. The call came midway through IPL 2025, at a time when pressure around his red-ball form had begun to build. A difficult tour of Australia had exposed his repeated struggles outside the off-stump, drawing constant scrutiny. In a bid to rediscover rhythm, he even turned up in the Ranji Trophy, hoping for a reset, but the runs didn't come there either. With expectations mounting and little respite from the spotlight, Kohli chose to walk away from Tests, bringing an abrupt end to a remarkable red-ball chapter.

In 123 Tests, Kohli scored 9,230...