Test Cricket Will Miss You Virat

 Test Cricket Lost its ultimate Poster Boy

Picture Source: Google 

Test Cricket will no longer be the same. Because, it’s ultimate poster boy has just retired from this format. We are talking about, The Modern Master, India’s Greatest Test captain, Virat Kohli. It came as a shock, just few days after the retirement of Team India’s former test captain Rohit Sharma.

Well, everyone were believing that, with the high fitness standard that, Virat had maintained for himself and having age on his side, he may continue for another couple of years. Although, last five years haven’t gone the way, he would have thought. But, the kind of dedication he had for this format and with a huge tour coming up against England, one would believe, Virat will be definitely there.

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But, things don’t go always the way we have wished. After an unsatisfied tour of Aussies in BGT 2024, Virat couldn’t motivated himself for going further in his Red Ball Career and put an end to it on 12th May, 2025. Once again a Social Media post and the whole Cricket World were in Shock.

Well, some theories say that both Virat and Rohit were ready for the UK tour. But the Selection Committee and BCCI had the succession plan. Also, the fact that, both were going through some really lean patch, at some point TM had to take that call. And, with start of a new fresh WTC Cycle, this call was quite understandable.

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Talking about, the Great Man, Words will fall short to describe his commitment towards Red Ball Game and the way he revolutionized both Indian Cricket and World Cricket in this format. He was so close to that landmark of 10000 Test Runs, which is a huge feet for any batter. But, he didn’t cared for that.

Those 770 Runs, which he couldn’t achieve, won’t affect his Legacy in this format at all. Yet, he will be in top 3 or 4 batters of all-time great Indians in this format. But, People of this Era will remember him as the Greatest Test Captain of India. He Led Team India in 68 Tests and Won 40 Matches out of that which is highest among Indians.

Apart from his Runs and Captaincy Record. Virat Kohli, The Test Leader was Inspirational. He was Ruthless and full of aggression. Test Cricket was, is and will be the ultimate format of this game. And, he ensured that, Team India will achieve bigger height in this format as long as he is there as the Skipper.

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In 2014-15 BGT, when MS was absent from first match at Adelaide, he made his Test Captaincy Debut and that game actually gave the glimpse of future of Indian Test Team under Young and Energetic Virat Kohli. His decisions, picking Karn Sharma as attacking option over Ashwin/Jadeja or going for the chase of 360 on 5th day of the game, hadn’t produced the result that day.

But, it had given the indication, how the Young Indian team is going to approach Test Cricket now onwards. The World had already seen some trailers of Virat Kohli the batter after he had made his arrival in whites during West Indies Tour in 2011. When he smashed his maiden test ton in Aussie’s Soil in 2012’s horrible tour for Team India, it was the arrival of next big super star in Indian Cricket.

He not only brought that aggressive mindset while leading the side on the field, but also, he himself made a strong statement with the bat also. He scored two quality Centuries in both the innings in that 2014 Adelaide Test. Although that came in losing cause. But, it had given the hope for the bright future.

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And after MS gave up Captaincy midway of the tour, Virat became the full time Team India’s Test Captain in Sydney. The side that was really struggling in the longest format of the game, became the NO.1 Team in just few times. The transition was so smooth that, it didn’t affected Team in any aspect.

Rather, Virat brought some really fresh approach in his tenure. That aggressive and winning mindset, not opting for draw as a result, fitness culture in the team and most important one, that fast bowling culture. We always had that batting unit and spin resources. But, had lacked in Pace department so often.

We used to have one or two quality Pacers only. That had always coasted in overseas tours. But in that period of Virat’s Captaincy, whole World witnessed a ruthless and fired up pace unit of 4 to 5 Pacers. First time we believed that, now we can dominate Test Cricket anywhere and in any condition. That was the real achievement of Virat Kohli the Test Leader.

We made one of the most difficult thing possible, beating Australia at their backyard. And, that to be twice in 2018-19 & 2020-21 Tours. Virat Kohli became the first Asian Captain to achieve that feet. We came so close in England and South Africa also, where result didn’t go in our side. But, we gave them toughest fight.

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2021 England Test Series after the heartbreak of WTC Final loss, where we believed that this time it will be possible. We could have won that series, if the last match hadn’t postponed due to Co-vid. That pep talk from Virat in the Hurdle, “Let’s Make these 60 Overs hell for them”, then that execution and that victory was so special. That particular statement shows the Character of how aggressive Virat the Captain was.

But, the same series proved to be the last landmark series for him as Leader. Although he led team India in few more tests during New Zealand’s home series and South Africa’s tour, before he gave up Test Captaincy. That was also a moment of shock for every Cricket fan who loves Test Cricket.

As, the Legend has decided to sign off from his dearest format, it’s now time to bid farewell to him. Just like most of the Indian Greats, he is going without having a perfect farewell moment on the field. But, that’s what we have to accept and respect his decision. As, there is no one better than him to take that call.

Only regret that we as fans will feel that, he should have finished this format with atleast10K Runs with 50+ Average. But, both the cases couldn’t fulfilled. His lack of consistency with runs brought his average down to 46 from 50+ and Centuries almost vanished from once called Run Machine.

More than the lack of runs, it’s the way of dismissal, that outside off issue, troubled him a lot in his last few years. His vulnerability against that 4th, 5th stump line ball and lack of scoring options against spinners in later part of his career, frustrated his fans more than himself. Also the spin friendly pitches prepare in India to favor for the WTC, didn’t help him and his team’s batting.

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Well Stats won’t tell how good a batsman he was in this format. He was an all format and all condition batter, who overcame almost every challenges been thrown at him. He had told about that personal landmark in his early days. But he never really went after those achievements. Rather choose Team’s faith.

Once he mentioned about giving up playing this beautiful game, if he wouldn’t able to give his best. And, today he just made that decision. There so much of thing about Virat Kohli the Test Player and The Test Leader. India and Indian fans are lucky to have witnessed a player like him. Thank You so much King Kohli……..