Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The Indian star batsman made the announcement in an Instagram post today.

He had earlier said goodbye to international T20s last year. The 36-year-old batsman will now play only ODIs.

Announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Kohli wrote, "I first wore the baggy blue (India's Test cap) in Test cricket 14 years ago today. Honestly, I never imagined where this format would take me. This format has tested me, shaped me and taught me lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life."

Kohli made his Test debut against the West Indies in June 2011. He has played 123 Tests in the last 14 years, scoring 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries.

Explaining what he has gained from Test cricket, Kohli wrote, "There is a deeply personal feeling in playing in white. The silent toil, the long struggle, the small moments - the ones that no one sees, but are etched in the memory for a lifetime."

Kohli's Test career has been in the news since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy held in Australia in November-January. In that series, he scored 190 runs in 9 innings at an average of 23.75 in five Tests.

Of the eight times he was dismissed in the series, seven times he was caught behind the stumps while playing a ball outside the off-stump.

However, despite the poor performance in the Australian tour, many did not expect Kohli to retire anytime soon. According to Indian media sources, Kohli had informed the BCCI about his retirement from Test cricket a few days ago.

However, the board has asked him to reconsider his decision. Stating that he has decided to quit Tests, Kohli wrote, "Now that I am stepping away from this format, it is not easy. But it feels like the right decision for me. I have given everything to Test cricket, and it has given me back so much more."

He added, "I leave with a heart full of gratitude—to this game, to the people who have been my companions on the field; and to those who have given me respect and love along the way."

Recalling the identity of India's 269th Test cricketer on his farewell, Kohli wrote, "Looking back on my Test career will always bring a smile to my face."