Virat Kohli, perhaps the most fêted of Indian cricketers, has dropped a huge bombshell. Retirement marks the end of a stellar 14-year career. He is hanging up his boots for Test cricket. Kohli made his Test cricket debut back in 2011. With his star power and charisma, he soon became the most important figure in Indian cricket. Under his tenure India made great strides, including their reaching the final of the first-ever World Test Championship in 2021. So even with his budding Indian team’s semifinal loss to New Zealand, you still sense Kohli’s fearless spirit made an impression. He motivated his players with this fearless mentality.
Ever since the day he put on that first baggy blue jersey, Kohli’s journey has been remarkable. Since then, he has grown into an idol of excellence in Test cricket. He has an admirable record of 30 centuries. Having amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85 across 123 matches, his records speak for themselves. His performances have already solidified his legacy as India’s fourth-highest Test scorer of all time. He is only behind legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
A Legacy of Leadership
Kohli has been extremely intentional about creating a culture and his leadership style has meant a constant, ambitious drive for improvement. As captain, he led India to victory in 40 out of 68 Test matches, making him the country’s most successful skipper in this format. His ability to instill a fearless attitude among his teammates was pivotal in shaping a resilient team that suffered only 17 defeats under his command.
Reflecting on his journey, Kohli remarked, “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on.” He thanked all of the life experiences that he said helped mold him into the player and man he became.
“It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.” – Virat Kohli
Kohli’s efforts being the flagbearer for Test cricket, did wonders in redefining its charm, particularly for the younger generations. Renowned sports commentator Harsha Bhogle emphasized this impact: “He told a generation weaned on T20 cricket that test cricket is cool and aspirational. For that, the game owes him big time.”
Record-Breaking Achievements
Throughout his Test career, Kohli broke several batting records and set milestones that enabled us to realize just how brilliant he truly was. And not just that, he is the Indian with the most double hundreds – a remarkable seven so far. In the all-time list of Test double hundreds, he is alone at 6th. Only Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara, and Don Bradman are ahead of him.
His World Test Championship performance cemented his promise and proved he belonged at the highest level. Despite India’s loss to New Zealand in the final, Kohli’s leadership during this high-stakes tournament solidified his legacy as one of the greats of the game.
“Thank you, Virat Kohli! An era ends in test cricket but the legacy will continue FOREVER,” – India’s cricket board
Kohli’s departure from Test cricket represents the end of an era for Indian cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India acknowledged his contributions, stating, “The former Team India Captain retires from test cricket. His contributions to #TeamIndia will forever be cherished.”
Future Endeavors
As a reminder, Kohli is retiring from Test cricket. He remains firmly determined to captain India in ODIs and to keep playing in the Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His choice to retire from Test matches doesn’t diminish his love for the game. Rather, it opens up the opportunity for him to focus on formats where he can have a real, lasting impact.
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