Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket last month, sending shockwaves through the world of cricket. The veteran batter Virat Kohli‘s retirement came shortly after his skipper Rohit Sharma had made a similar decision, and just ahead of the BCCI’s squad announcement for the five-match England series.
Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned 14 years and included 123 Tests – 68 of them as captain – in which he scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85. Virat Kohli had communicated his desire to retire from Test cricket to the BCCI ahead of the big five-match series in England starting June 20, for which he was expected to be part of the squad. It was learnt at the time that Kohli had been having conversations on the matter with officials of the BCCI for the past month or so.
Virat Kohli’s stellar test cricket career spanning over 14 years
Virat Kohli made his Test debut on India’s tour of the West Indies in mid-2011, and after a quiet start in Kingston where he scored 4 and 15 – he totaled 76 runs in five innings on that tour – Kohli first showed glimpses of his ability against West Indies at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium later that year, scoring 52 and 63. It was a struggle initially on the subsequent, ill-fated tour of Australia, where India lost 4-0, but Kohli finished the series on a high, scoring his first Test century in the Adelaide Test.
Virat Kohli’s first really big Test series was also in Australia, in 2014-15, when he scored twin centuries in Adelaide, and followed it up with centuries in Melbourne and Sydney to aggregate 692 runs for the series at an average of 86.50. By then, he was also India’s Test captain. MS Dhoni was the designated captain, but missed the first Test because of a thumb injury, leading to Kohli’s elevation.
MS Dhoni returned for, and captained in, the second Test in Brisbane and continued in the position for the third Test in Melbourne, but retired from the format altogether after that game. Kohli took over the reins after that.
A glorious period ensued, where India won 40 of the 68 games Kohli led in, losing just 17. The 40 wins made Kohli India’s most successful Test captain of all time – Dhoni with 27 from 60 and Sourav Ganguly with 21 from 49 rank below him – and, at the time of his retirement, places him at No. 4 on the overall list of captains with the most Test wins, behind Graeme Smith (53 from 109), Ricky Ponting (48 from 77) and Steve Waugh (41 from 57).
The tour of England in 2018 was another high point. Virat Kohli was the top run-getter across the two sides in the five Tests, aggregating 583 at an average of 59.30 with two centuries. That it came after he had scored just 134 runs in ten innings on the previous tour, in 2014, made the performance that much more special. That year, 2018, was also his best in terms of aggregate for a year, when he scored 1322 runs.
During his golden run, he averaged 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, 55.08 in 2018, and 68.00 in 2019. During that period between 2016 and 2018, Virat Kohli scored 3596 runs in 35 Tests at an average of 66.59, with 14 hundreds and eight fifties in 58 innings.
Virat Kohli had taken the cricketing world by surprise by announcing his retirement from Tests last month, more than a month before the five-match India-England series was to get underway and less than a week after captain Rohit Sharma bid goodbye to the format. Both Rohit and Virat Kohli had endured a disappointing run in the recent tour of Australia, where the former scored just 31 runs in three Tests and the latter’s form quickly nosedived after an unbeaten 100 in Perth.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri feels Virat Kohli’s Test retirement could have been handled better as he deserved a proper farewell and said he would have reinstated him as captain after the Australia series. Virat Kohli called time on his Test career last month, finishing with 123 matches, 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. Going further Ravi Shastri while praising Virat Kohli,
Ravi Shastri sings laurels for Virat Kohli calling him the greatest player in a decade during the 5th Test
Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has made headlines by sharing his top five Indian cricketers of all time during a recent discussion with cricket legends. As India prepares for the crucial fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Shastri’s insights on the ongoing five-match series and the players’ performances have garnered significant attention. His selections reflect a deep respect for cricket’s history and its most influential figures, showcasing the evolving nature of the sport.
In a lively exchange with cricketing icons like Phil Tufnell, Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Michael Vaughan, Ravi Shastri was asked to name his top five Indian cricketers. The former cricketer did not hesitate to name Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni as his all-time favorites. Shastri emphasized that his selections were based on the impact these players had during their respective eras. With each name, he acknowledged not only their skills but also their contributions to Indian cricket.
Ravi Shastri one of the prominent name in Indian cricket’s voices , has once again expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli, calling him the most influential player of the last decade.
In a recent video posted on Stick to Cricket, the Former India head coach was aasked to name the best player of the modern era. Without hesitation Shastri responded:
” It’s a young brigade at the moment, but the best player, the most influential player of last decade -Virat Kohli “
Ravi Shastri, who coached India during some of Kohli’s most successful years as Test captain has been a long admirer of the 36-year old. His latest praise adds to a string of accolades Ravi Shastri has directed towards Virat Kohli in recent years.
Shastri explained that he considered players from the ’70s through to the present day to finalize his choices. He pointed out that while Jasprit Bumrah is a remarkable talent, he did not include him in the list because Bumrah still has a significant career ahead of him. The focus was on players who have either retired or are nearing the twilight of their careers.
When pressed to name the best among his top five, Shastri confidently placed Sachin Tendulkar at the top. He praised Tendulkar for his remarkable consistency and longevity in the game, having played for 24 years and accumulated an incredible 100 international hundreds. Shastri highlighted Tendulkar’s ability to handle every pace attack he faced and commended his technique and class, asserting that Tendulkar’s achievements set him apart as the ultimate icon of Indian cricket.
Shastri’s remarks about Tendulkar resonate with cricket fans, who often regard him as the “God of Cricket.” His substantial contributions to the sport have left an indelible mark, making him a beloved figure in India and worldwide.
Shastri’s insights and expert opinions are influential in shaping the narrative around Indian cricket, especially during significant series like this one. His experience as a player and coach adds depth to his analysis, making him a respected voice in discussions about the game’s future.
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