World Test Championship: India’s most successful Test captain and one of modern cricket’s fiercest competitors, Virat Kohli, has brought the curtain down on a glittering red-ball career. As tributes pour in from across the cricket world, it was veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s heartfelt words that best encapsulated the essence of Kohli’s transformative impact on Indian Test cricket.
“The way Virat captained in the Test format, he deserves credit for the way we transformed as a team,” Bhuvneshwar said. “I think the reason for that is Virat’s nature on the ground. He is aggressive, we all know that, and in Test cricket, you need that nature somewhere, because Test cricket is a format that lasts for five days. It was the hunger in Virat that said, ‘We have to do something, we don't have to just go through the motions, we have to create chances. ’ I think Virat’s passion rubbed off on everyone,” he added.
Indeed, Kohli’s Test journey is the stuff of cricketing legend. From a brash, aggressive youngster who made his debut in 2011 to becoming the most dominant and inspiring Indian Test captain in history, Kohli’s story was one of grit, evolution, and sustained excellence.