End of an era as Kohli says goodbye to Test cricket

Few sights in cricket are as captivating as witnessing Indian cricketing icon Virat Kohli perform at his peak, drawing spectators to their feet whenever he steps onto the field. He has ascended to a level that many can only aspire to reach, establishing himself as the premier batsman of the modern era across all formats of the game.

The other day Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of a distinguished career in the longest format shortly after captain Rohit Sharma made a similar announcement. The timing of Kohli’s decision was noteworthy, as it came just prior to the upcoming discussions among selectors regarding the squad for the England Test series commencing next month. This announcement may have been strategically made to allow the selectors sufficient time to finalise their decisions for the series. With both Rohit Sharma and Kohli absent from the squad, India will field a relatively young top order, with several emerging players vying for key positions.

Kohli’s final Test came in January, concluding a series in which India was defeated 3-1 by Australia-an outcome that resulted in the loss of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. However, his most enduring legacy lies in his captaincy from 2014 to 2022, during which he led the Indian team with distinction.

Debuting in 2011, Kohli played 123 Tests, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. He captained India in 68 Tests-more than any other Indian skipper-winning 40 of those matches, making him the country’s most successful Test captain. Globally, he ranks fourth in Test victories by a captain, behind Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41).

Kohli is among a select group of cricketers to have scored over 100 centuries in professional cricket, with records including 30 in Tests, 51 in ODIs, one in T20 Internationals, and nine in

first-class cricket. His versatility and ability to adapt across all formats set him apart. His maiden century came in 2008 against Sri Lanka in ODIs. His formidable batting average in both ODIs and Tests, combined with his aggressive yet calculated style, has made him an influential role model for aspiring cricketers worldwide.

Renowned for his unwavering commitment to fitness and extraordinary work ethic, Kohli has set new standards within the cricketing community. Often regarded as one of the fittest athletes in the sport, his dedication to physical conditioning has not only enhanced his personal performance but has also positively influenced India’s overall fitness culture.

Mental resilience is a hallmark of Kohli’s game. He thrives under pressure, consistently rising to the occasion when his team needs him most. His focus and composure in high-stakes situations have contributed to India’s numerous victories.

Kohli’s record-breaking achievements include being the fastest to reach milestones such as 8,000, 9,000, 10,000, and 11,000 runs in ODIs and being the quickest to accumulate 70 international centuries. His journey from a young cricket enthusiast to a global icon exemplifies his dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence. His legacy is firmly established, and he continues to inspire generations with his talent and determination.

Following India’s victory in last ear’s T20 World Cup, Kohli, along with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, announced their retirement from T20 Internationals. Upon receiving the Player of the Match award in the final, Kohli stated, “This was my last T20 game playing for

India, and it’s time for the next generation to carry the T20 format forward.” He concluded his T20I career with 4,188 runs in 125 matches, maintaining a strike rate of 137, including one century and 38 fifties. Kohli also amassed 1,292 runs in T20 World Cup history- the highest by

any player-highlighting his significant contribution in the tournament, with notable performances in 2014 and 2022.

In Test cricket, Kohli scored 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, ranking him as the fourth-most prolific Indian batter in the format. His 30 centuries are the fourth-highest among Indian players, and his seven double-hundreds remain the most by any Indian batter. Notably, Kohli

is the only player in Tests to have scored over 1,000 runs in two consecutive calendar years at an average exceeding 75.

Kohli’s best years in Test cricket started with the Australia tour in 2014-15, when he scored 692 runs in the series at an average of 86.50, including four hundreds. From that series to the end of Bangladesh tour of India in 2019-20, he amassed 5347 runs in Tests at an average of 63.65 and made 21 of his 30 centuries from just 90 innings.

Kohli was more successful at home than away with the bat. He scored 4336 runs at an average of 55.58 in 55 Tests in India. In away Tests (excluding the two World Test Championship finals) he scored 4774 runs at an average of 41.51.

However, that middling average does not mean Kohli did not have his highs in away Tests.

As Test captain, Kohli was one of the most prolific batters in the format, scoring 5864 runs at an average of 54.80. It helped that his captaincy stint largely coincided with his best years with the bat in Test cricket. While his runs are the fourth highest by a captain, his 20 centuries while leading India are surpassed only Graeme Smith who scored 25 hundreds as a Test captain. In matches that he led India, Kohli contributed 16.45 percent of India’s bat runs. Among 18 captains to have led in 50 or matches, Kohli’s contribution is second highest after Root’s 16.67 percent. No other captain has contributed more than 15 percent to their team’s totals among the others.- Khurram Mahmood

However, Kohli's biggest contribution as a captain in Tests was arguably his eagerness to build an attack that could take 20 wickets in all conditions, by putting together a pace pack that could win matches on its own. India always had spinners who could win Tests in helpful conditions, but it was under Kohli’s captaincy that fast bowlers thrived. –Khurram Mahmood

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