Virat announces retirement from Test Cricket: Celebs react

Virat Kohli has officially announced his retirement from

Test cricket

, bringing an end to a brilliant 14-year journey in the longest format of the game. The cricket star from Delhi shared the big news on Instagram on 12 May, saying it wasn’t an easy decision—but one that felt right.A heartfelt goodbye from the cricket starKohli’s emotional message on Instagram read, "As I step away from this format, it's not easy—but it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for."He followed it up with even more gratitude for the people who supported him over the years: "I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude—for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way."

With this, Kohli steps away from Test matches, continuing only in One Day Internationals (ODIs), as he had already retired from T20 internationals last year. The news left fans in shock, and emotions ran high not just among cricket lovers but also across Bollywood.

Sahiba Bali has a special messageAmong the first to react was 'Laila Majnu' actor Sahiba Bali. Taking to her Instagram story, she reposted Kohli’s retirement post and added a cheeky but heartfelt line, “Ab toh England series ko backyard cricket maan ke khel lo (Now just treat the England series like backyard cricket and play).”Her comment reflected just how big a loss Kohli’s absence will be, especially in iconic series like the one against England. She seemed to imply that without Virat, the series might feel as casual as a backyard match.

Angad Bedi writes an emotional noteActor Angad Bedi, who shares a warm friendship with Kohli, shared a touching tribute that showed just how much this moment meant to him. His message was filled with love, respect, and personal memories.“Go well, my brother, and thank you for the memories, the tears, the sweat, and the blood you have put in. I wished to see the 269 test cap go from the field. Test cricket will never be the same. I have a lump in my throat as I write this, but you have set the bar way too high for someone to carry your legacy forward. It's been wonderful to have known you personally and to have followed your career so closely. God bless the KING @virat.kohli . Stay well, my cheekoo… Love to the family. Waheguru chardikala vich rakhe humesha love and prayers, Angad Bedi. Ps: Aaaja Bhangra Paaiye!! Rona na nikal jaave kithe.”

Aparshakti Khurana celebrates an eraActor Aparshakti Khurana also showed his appreciation in the comments section of Kohli’s post. He said, “I feel happy to be born in an era where we witnessed it inch by inch! Rabbbb Charhdiyaaaan Kalaaan ich rakhey! Alway”s His words perfectly summed up the feelings of countless fans who have followed Kohli’s Test career since the beginning.Katrina, Vicky, Kriti, and more reactWhile some actors wrote long, emotional messages, others chose to simply show support and celebrate Virat’s career in test cricket by liking the post. Bollywood stars such as Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Kriti Sanon, Arjun Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao, and others reacted to the cricket legend’s goodbye with a like on his post.