Virat Kohli Test Retirement:  In a moment that will echo greatly with cricket fans around the world, India’s batting talisman Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, bringing curtains down on his remarkable 14-year journey in the longest format of the cricket.

Ending a spectacular run in the format which celebrated him as its saviour at a time when T20 cricket took centre-stage globally, Kohli admitted that it wasn't an easy call to make.

The megastar's last Test assignment was a largely underwhelming tour of Australia in which he managed just one hundred. He ends his career well short of the 10,000 run mark, which was at one stage considered a formality.

119 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2013

Following his remarkable series against Australia in 2012, Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, continued his meteoric rise, playing a masterful knock in South Africa 2012-13, which ultimately became an illustrative moment in his career. His knock of 119 runs was nothing short of extraordinary as the great Allan Donald drew parallels between Kohli's batting technique and Sachin Tendulkar's elegant strokeplay.

Summarising the contest, India batting first posted 280 after reeling at 24/2, as the rising giant Kohli stepped up to the plate and formed a vital 89-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara for the third wicket. In the match, India played a tense draw.

141 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2014

The scoreboard of the match against Australia does justice to Kohli's tremendous effort in this game. After Aussies set a daunting target with a mammoth 517, Kohli led the charge of India's reply, which was nothing short of remarkable.

Kohli's batting prowess was on full display, as his century stood out as a beacon of splendour, expertly supported by crucial partnerships from Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane after the team's first-innings total of 444 was 73 runs shy of the opposition's score.

Australia declared their second innings on 290, inviting India to chase down 364.  Walking in at stuttring 57/2, Kohli and Murli Vijay stitched up  185 runs for the third wicket, however, none of the partnerships was enough to stop the belligerent Australia as Lyon’s seven-wicket haul handed Aussies the win despite Kohli's masterful 141.

169 vs Australia, Melbourne, 2014

Kohli and his love affair with the Australian team and its iconic stadiums have always captivated cricket fans as the star batter always rose to the occasion to deliver an eternal masterclass and this time it was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

Orchestrating an eternal memory for the fans, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane composed a massive partnership as the duo stitched up a 262-run stand for the fourth wicket, which single-handedly pushed India towards a strong position.

123 vs Australia, Perth, 2018

Kohli produced a gritty display of batting and once again exhibited his unparalleled prowess on Australian soil. Kohli's orchestra is a powerful piece that will be etched in the memory against an unrelenting Australian attack.

India was floundering at 8/2, when Kohli came out to bat and formed a crucial 82-run partnership with Cheteshwar Pujara. Even after Pujara fell prey to Mitchell Starc's sharp bowling, Kohli with his tenacious batting, stitched up 91 runs for the fourth wicket and built a 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hanuma Vihari to help India post 283.

149 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018

In 2018, Kohli yet again delivered a masterclass performance in this Test match despite India ending up on the losing side. England set the tone of the match as they imposed a total of 287 and India's reply laboured at 54/2. Kohli once again set up his game and became a beacon of hope for the floundering India side, stitching up a 41-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Rahane.

After Rahane lost his wicket, the Indian maestro continued to battle on, forging a valuable 48-run stand with Hardik Pandya for the sixth wicket, before the all-rounder surrendered to Sam Curran. Further extending India's resistance, Kohli stitched up many partnerships with tailenders, dragging India's total to a decent 274 despite the odds.