Virat Kohli Retires from Test Cricket

[Agonizingly Awkward]

Sad that his average ends up like that but one of the best players of pace and bounce.

 

[Molehill]

I never really liked him but admired the hell out of him. He was a terrific Test batter until the last two years and the best short form batter of all time.

I think the reason we didn't like him was because of the passion he showed on the pitch and how it irritated the hell out of opposing fans. But he's the kind of player you'd love to have in your own team. Never really saw the best of him in England, and probably a good decision to retire now before another 5 Tests of likely difficulty. A cricketing icon, although more likely to be remembered post retirement for his limited overs efforts which are different level.

 

[Bahnz]

Really did feel like a career of 3 acts:

2011-2015: showed flashes of his immense potential but not really a great player yet
2016 - 2019: an absolute monster of a batsman who gave Smith a serious run for his money as the best in the world.
2020 - 2025: a stunningly protracted decline in run output the likes of which I'm not sure I've seen from any other genuinely great player

Overall a brilliant player to watch, and while his on field histrionics were not to my taste it can't be denied it made for great theater. The fab 4 era is officially done.

 

[capt_Luffy]

Adios. A Great career overall. Was my teenage icon, so his fall was really sad to see. I am having some mixed emotions really..... I know he was most likely going to be ****, so him retiring before England is a very welcome development. But still, deep down, I was really rooting for him to have a last huzzah before pulling the curtains. Thanks.

 

[morgieb]

Obviously his career didn't end as well as he would've hoped, but for a period he was an utter beast and was the icon of his era. He defined cricket in a way few others did and whatever you thought of his on-field personality, he will be missed.

This kind of feels like the end of an era. Most of the big name Indian stars of the 2010's are now gone or close to gone, and I feel like the generation after that seems a lot less enamored with the idea of Test cricket being the pinnacle of the game. If Kohli hadn't gone balls to the wall to defend Test/international cricket I fear the IPL might've gone a lot further with harming international cricket. Hopefully someone can stand to defend the premier format soon enough.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

Bittersweet. There's relief in knowing he won't tarnish his legacy further but it's also a genuine end of an era for Indian cricket, perhaps second in magnitude to only Tendulkar calling it a day. Also likely to be the last great Indian cricketer whose career I managed to actively follow and watch large parts of.

 

[Shri]

finally **** off

 

[mackembhoy]

Long overdue but great player. Insanely good at his peak and excellent captain. His legacy is probably going to be that he's the last Indian superstar cricketer to actually consider test cricket as the premier format.

Was going to say as much as I don't like the guy. While appreciating the fine player he was for many years and arguably the best white ball batsman we've seen

His willingness and appreciation to keep test match cricket alive, while he could have easily just been a full on cheerleader for the IPL. Can't be understated.

 

[OverratedSanity]

[/QUOTE]

Bumrah, Pant to name the only two present superstars.

India takes test cricket very seriously. It’s a fake trope that they don’t.

Every generation in India takes it less seriously ( in comparison to the other formats).

 

[Spikey]

welcome to the big bash

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Future hall of famer, for his impact on Indian test cricket.

 

[Ali TT]

Was going to say as much as I don't like the guy. While appreciating the fine player he was for many years and arguably the best white ball batsman we've seen

His willingness and appreciation to keep test match cricket alive, while he could have easily just been a cuzfull on cheerleader for the IPL. Can't be understated.

I wonder if he recognised that India being the best test side provided greater legitimacy in the eyes of the global cricketing establishment than if they'd gone down the white ball route and let the test side wither on the vine. Creating a consistently top tier test side was the last mountain for Indian cricket to climb in the international game, and that will be a large part of his legacy.

Either way, a very fine player at his peak - not just in terms of output but enjoyable to watch as well. Shame he declined as he did in the past five years but while that will fill up many a player comparison thread it shouldn't detract from his overall impact on the red ball game.

 

[Athlai]

Ended up with a pretty similar Test career to Ponting. Stellar peak, led a #1 Test team and a fairly long decline.

 

[Kirkut]

*stares in disbelief for a bit before walking off*

Nah, that would be classic Laxman expression after getting clean bowled.

 

[Molehill]

Ended up with a pretty similar Test career to Ponting. Stellar peak, led a #1 Test team and a fairly long decline.

I'm English and I'm not having that, god knows what the Aussies will say.

 

[Thala_0710]

I'm English and I'm not having that, god knows what the Aussies will say.

Ponting like in terms of everything, but just a lower quality

 

[Kirkut]

welcome to the big bash

Nah, he'll be running a consulting business (Magic Lamps the name I guess) in London. Got the company registered there too.

 

[Kirkut]

Ended up with a pretty similar Test career to Ponting. Stellar peak, led a #1 Test team and a fairly long decline.

Ponting the batsman is a tier above though.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

I wonder if he recognised that India being the best test side provided greater legitimacy in the eyes of the global cricketing establishment than if they'd gone down the white ball route and let the test side wither on the vine. Creating a consistently top tier test side was the last mountain for Indian cricket to climb in the international game, and that will be a large part of his legacy.

I think he just happened to emerge in the wake of a stalwart Test batting side that the country as a whole idolized and naturally took to the format. Tests were still very much the accepted standard in India 15-18 years ago.

 

[Gob]

I think the reason we didn't like him was because of the passion he showed on the pitch and how it irritated the hell out of opposing fans. But he's the kind of player you'd love to have in your own team. Never really saw the best of him in England, and probably a good decision to retire now before another 5 Tests of likely difficulty. A cricketing icon, although more likely to be remembered post retirement for his limited overs efforts which are different level.

He was brilliant in 2018