ECB has started the process to appoint the next test captain with batting mainstay Joe Root regarded as the favourite for the job.
"Stepping down has been an incredibly hard decision but I know this is the correct decision for me and at the right time for the team," Cook said in a statement.
"I've had time to reflect after the India series and this weekend I spoke to Colin Graves, the Chairman, to explain and offer my resignation," England's most capped test captain said referring to last year's 4-0 loss in India.
The 32-year-old has scored more test centuries than any of his predecessors and is also the country's most prolific test batsman with 11,057 runs in 140 tests.
"Playing for England really is a privilege and I hope to carry on as a test player, making a full contribution and helping the next England captain and the team however I can," he added.
(Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
