Melbourne/Mumbai, Dec 31: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni Tuesday announced his retirement from test cricket with immediate effect, with Virat Kohli taking on at the helm.

Dhoni’s announcement in Melbourne came following finish of the third test, that led to a draw, and gave Australia a 2-0 series win with the final match to be played in Sydney January 6.

Kohli can captain the Indian aspect within the fourth and final test.

“MS Dhoni has chosen to retire from test Cricket with immediate result so as to consider ODI and T twenty formats,” aforesaid a BCCI media statement issued in Mumbai.

“BCCI, whereas respecting the choice of MS Dhoni to retire from test Cricket, needs to impart him for his monumental contribution to test Cricket and the laurels that he has dropped at India.”

“Virat Kohli are the captain of the Indian Team for the Fourth and Final test against Australia to be played in Sydney from the January 6 2015.

Dhoni has played ninety Tests for India, scoring 4,876 runs and was instrumental in taking the Indian team to the highest of test rankings.