Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni—three of India's cricketing giants—have concluded their Test careers, each retiring just short of historic personal milestones.

Kohli, who made his test debut in 2011 against the West Indies, retired from Test cricket on Monday after playing 123 matches in his glorious 14-year red-ball career. The 36-year-old has been India's standout batter since Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013.

Kohli said the five-day format's traditions, ebbs, and flows were special to him, including "the quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever."

Yet he retired with 9,230 runs, meaning he needed only 770 more runs to complete 10,000 Test runs, but sadly, that was not to be.

Kohli finished as India's fourth-highest scorer in tests after Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122). He also scored the most double centuries for India in tests — seven — one more than the legendary Tendulkar.

The 36-year-old Kohli's retirement comes only days after Rohit Sharma stepped down from test cricket.

The India captain, known for his elegant strokeplay and explosive six-hitting ability, ended his Test journey just three sixes short of becoming the highest six-hitter for India in the format.

Former India captain MS Dhoni, who bid farewell to Test cricket back in 2014, needed only 10 more Tests to complete 100 Tests, but he retired after playing 90.

Together, the trio not only changed the face of Indian cricket across formats but also came tantalisingly close to adding monumental statistical landmarks to their already glittering careers. Though celebrated for timing and impact, their retirements leave fans wondering what might have been had they continued just a little longer.

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