All posts tagged: Virat Kohli retires

‘Was ok if Virat Kohli retired from cricket, but dissapointing he chose to play ODIs’: Sanjay Manjrekar | Cricket News

‘Was ok if Virat Kohli retired from cricket, but dissapointing he chose to play ODIs’: Sanjay Manjrekar | Cricket News

Joe Root scored his 41st Test century on Day 1 of the fifth Ashes Test, leaving just the legendary pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis ahead of him in the list of players with most tons in the nearly 150-year history of the format. Root equalled Ricky Ponting to be joint third on the list, with Tendulkar having scored 51 and Kallis having made 45. Just a day later, though, Steve Smith replied with a century of his own, his 37th overall and 13th in the Ashes, which is the second most for any player. Only the legendary Don Bradman is ahead of him. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar said that it is somewhat disappointing that Virat Kohli chose to retire from Test cricket while fellow members of the ‘Fab 4’ Smith, Root and Kane Williamson continue to make waves in the format. “Well, as Joe Root attains new heights in Test cricket, my mind goes to Virat Kohli. He’s walked away from Tests, and it’s unfortunate that in the five years that he …

‘Something I will always remember…’

‘Something I will always remember…’

England captain Ben Stokes has said that he told Virat Kohli how much the latter will be missed when India embark on a five-Test tour of the country in June. The Indian team that arrives on English shores will be a side in transition with stalwarts Kohli and captain Rohit Sharma both retiring from the longest format earlier this month. England have started their summer of cricket with a four-match Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, after which they host India for a long, five-Test series. “I texted him saying it’s going to be a shame not playing against him this time. I love playing against Virat. We both have that same mindset on the field – it’s a battle,” said Stokes in a video released by the England and Wales Cricket Board. “What India will miss is his fighting spirit on the field, his competitiveness, his desire to win. He’s made No. 18 his own – we might never see it on the back of another Indian shirt. He’s been class for such a …

Kumar Dharmasena pays tribute to ‘greatest ever’ Kohli

Kumar Dharmasena pays tribute to ‘greatest ever’ Kohli

Sri Lanka umpire Kumar Dharmasena has made a touching tribute to India great Virat Kohli after the latter announced his retirement from Test cricket. Dharmasena can be seen standing beside a signed Test jersey of Kohli which he got as a gift from the former India captain. “I asked him for it once, and he gave it to me, signed by him as well,” Dharmasena says. Here is what Dharmasena said in his caption to the post: “From fierce battles on the field to respectful nods at the crease – it was always a pleasure to officiate your games, Virat. Your passion for Test cricket was unmatched. Wishing you the very best as you step away from the longest format. Your autographed Test jersey remains one of the most special mementos in my collection – a reminder of a true legend of the game.” “It is a sad day for cricket, especially Test cricket,” Dharmasena further says in the video. “I was fortunate to umpire a few of his Test matches. He is one of …

Bangar tried to ‘reason with’ India great against quitting Tests

Bangar tried to ‘reason with’ India great against quitting Tests

Virat Kohli brought the curtains down on a glorious Test career earlier this month but former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar had tried to “reason with him” before he made the announcement. Bangar had first been appointed as India’s batting coach in August 2014 and even took over the top job for India’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2016. “It was a sad day for me personally. He was a giant of his era. I tried to reason with him – there were still a few good years of Test cricket left in him. But he had made up his mind. He was convinced about the timing, and once he made that decision, there was no going back. We must respect that,” said Bangar on JioHotstar. Bangar remained part of the Indian coaching setup until the end of the 2019 World Cup, first as a batting coach under Anil Kumble and then as assistant coach under Ravi Shastri from July 2017. His years with the Indian team coincided with some of India’s biggest Test victories under …

Virat Kohli ‘one of the greatest Test batters ever’ but India have talent to fill his shoes, says James Anderson | Cricket News

Virat Kohli ‘one of the greatest Test batters ever’ but India have talent to fill his shoes, says James Anderson | Cricket News

England fast bowling great James Anderson has hailed Virat Kohli, with whom he shared a storied rivalry, as one of the greatest batters to ever play Test cricket. The 42-year-old however feels that India have the pool of talent that can fill up the gap left by even someone of Kohli’s stature. Kohli retired from Test cricket on Monday, bringing the curtains down on a glorious career in which he finished as India’s fourth highest run scorer of all time in the format. His decision came just days after longtime teammate and captain Rohit Sharma also retired from the format. “Great players. There will be a new captain because Sharma has retired. Kohli, one of the greatest Test batters that’s ever been. There’s big shoes to fill there but they’ve got a huge amount of talent in their squad,” said Anderson on TalkSport. “You just have to watch the IPL. They are bringing players into Test cricket from the IPL now who are just so attacking, aggressive, and fearless.” The rivalry between Anderson and Kohli …

Who will replace Virat Kohli at No. 4 for India in Test cricket?

Who will replace Virat Kohli at No. 4 for India in Test cricket?

The new number four for India in Tests would neither hear the cracking applause when he strides out nor the numbing silence when he retreats to the dressing room. Or to the scale associated with two immediate predecessors, Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kolhi. Instead, he could feel the squeezing weight of history and heritage, the burden of 25,151 runs, 51 hundreds, 36 years, the halo and honour, records and responsibility of the inheritance. The natural heir is Shubman Gill, the most promising of the youth brigade, a prospective captain and touted as a future great. He fits the profile—a splendid stroke-maker, stoked in the classical ethos yet with a post-modern outlook, with a game that he could bend to suit diverse conditions, a blossoming superstar, a composed presence, a smiling, handsome face that has begun adorning advertisement hoardings, and non-controversial off the field. However, him occupying the most sacred post in India’s batting line-up comes at the inevitable expense of a rejig and the consequent headaches. Story continues below this ad Gill has just grooved …

Virat Kohli ‘one of the greatest Test batters ever’ but India have talent to fill his shoes, says James Anderson | Cricket News

‘Virat Kohli- The most Australian non-Australian’- Greg Chappell | Cricket News

Virat Kohli’s retirement has attracted praises in bulk and Australian batting legend Greg Chappell has called his career in test format a “reign forged in grit, fire, and audacity.” ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Writing in his column for ‘ESPNCricinfo’, Chappell, a former India head coach said that Kohli’s retirement from test marks end of a thunderous era where he managed to eclipse great Sachin Tendulkar in terms of making a cultural and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity. “It closes the chapter on the most transformative figure in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar; perhaps Kohli even eclipses him in terms of cultural influence and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity,” Chappell wrote. Story continues below this ad “Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century,” he added. Former Indian skipper Kohli announced his retirement on Monday via social media ending his illustrious test career with 9230 runs from 123 tests and a …

As Virat Kohli retires from Tests, Novak Djokovic says incredible innings: Read inside story of how the stars connected | Cricket News

As Virat Kohli retires from Tests, Novak Djokovic says incredible innings: Read inside story of how the stars connected | Cricket News

Iconic tennis player Novak Djokovic was the latest to congratulate Virat Kohli on a glittering Test career after the Indian stalwart announced his retirement from the longest format of the game on Monday. “Incredible innings @viratkohli,” the Serb posted on his Instagram story with a photo of the Indian star. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO What’s even more fascinating here is that the two stars have never met each other in person, but over the last few years, Kohli and Djokovic have forged a bond via text messages, both players had revealed last year. “Virat Kohli and I have been texting a little bit for a few years. We never got the chance to meet in person, but it was an honour and privilege to listen to him speak nicely about me. I admire his career and his achievements. I started to play cricket. I’m not very good at it. I have a task to perfect my cricket skills before I get to India so that I don’t embarrass myself when I am there,” Djokovic had …

‘You’ve reshaped the mindset of millions’: Shubman Gill pays tribute to ‘paji’ Virat Kohli after Test retirement | Cricket News

‘You’ve reshaped the mindset of millions’: Shubman Gill pays tribute to ‘paji’ Virat Kohli after Test retirement | Cricket News

Shubman Gill, who in the opinion of many is the successor of Virat Kohli in the Indian team, posted a message to the 36-year-old who announced his retirement on Monday. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life, Kohli wrote on Instagram before ending with “#269, signing off.” Gill, who is reportedly the frontrunner to be the next India Test captain, shared a heartfelt tribute to his beloved ‘paji’. “Anything I write for you, paji, will never truly capture what I feel or the impact you’ve had on me. From watching you bat when I was 13 and wondering how someone could bring that kind of energy to the field – to sharing the field with you and realizing no one else possibly can – you’ve not just inspired a generation, you’ve reshaped the mindset of millions,” Gill wrote. Anything I write for you, …

What does #269 signify in Virat Kohli’s Test retirement post. Find out here | Cricket News

What does #269 signify in Virat Kohli’s Test retirement post. Find out here | Cricket News

After much speculations regarding his future in the longest format, Virat Kohli on Monday announced his retirement from Test cricket with an Instagram post. With the all important England Test series coming up, it deals a mighty blow to the team which will be without both Virat and Rohit Sharma, who also hung up his boots from Test cricket last week. “I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off,” the last lines of Kohli’s Instagram post read. In the post, the number #269 caught the attention of fans who were curious to know what that number signified. The number actually represents Kohli’s Test cap number which means he was the 269th player to represent India in the longest format. He got the cap when he made his debut against the West Indies in 2011. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons …