India captain MS Dhoni has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, the Board of Control for Cricket has confirmed.
The 33-year-old has decided to quit the Test arena in order to concentrate on one-day and Twenty20 formats.
Dhoni scored 4,876 runs in 90 Tests for India since making his debut against Sri Lanka in December 2005.
"One of India's greatest Test captains MS Dhoni, under whose leadership India became the number one team in the Test rankings, has decided to retire from Test cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of cricket," the BCCI said in a statement.
"MS Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats.
"The BCCI, while respecting the decision of MS Dhoni to retire from Test cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India."
Virat Kohli will captain India in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Sydney, which begins on January 6.
Steven Toplis
