The cricketing world is reeling from the announcement that Virat Kohli, one of India’s greatest Test batters, has retired from the longest format of the game.
The 36-year-old’s decision, confirmed via an emotional Instagram post on Monday, has elicited heartfelt reactions, none more poignant than that of his childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma expressed a mix of pride and sorrow, saluting Virat Kohli’s monumental contributions while lamenting the void his absence in Test whites will leave.
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Sharma, who expressed both pride in his former pupil’s achievements and sorrow at his departure from Test cricket.
He praised Kohli’s discipline and work ethic, which inspired countless young cricketers. However, he admitted the emotional toll of Kohli’s retirement, noting the void left by his absence in Test whites.
"I salute him for his tremendous contribution to Indian Cricket and as a coach, I am proud of him for what he has done for the country and the example he has set for the youngsters. Emotionally, it hurts that we won't be seeing him in whites again for the country. I appreciate and back his decision," Sharma said as quoted to ANI.
Looking ahead, Sharma remains optimistic about Kohli’s future in white-ball cricket.
"Hopefully, he will be there to win the ODI World Cup for India and he will be 100 per cent committed to it," he added.
Kohli’s decision comes ahead of India’s five-Test tour of England, starting June 20, with Shubman Gill likely to take over as captain following Rohit Sharma’s Test retirement.
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Virat Kohli’s Test Legacy
Kohli, a former India captain, retires as one of the country’s greatest Test batters, scoring 9,230 runs in 123 matches with seven double-hundreds, 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries at an average of 46.85.
His leadership saw India win 40 of 68 Tests, including a landmark series victory in Australia in 2018-19. He was the first Asian captain to win a Test series Down Under.
His final Test was also against Australia in Sydney earlier this year, where he scored 23 runs, bringing a quiet close to a career defined by passion and intensity.
Also read: How Many International Centuries Does Virat Kohli Have?
