The joy of the 2011 World Cup win hadn’t even subsided when India faced two humiliating clean sweep defeats in England, followed by Australia. The magnitude of the defeat can be understood by the fact that in NO game did India even come close to fighting (forget winning). If all this were enough, India also lost to England at home in 2012, followed by another set of series defeats in England and Australia. It was clear the magic of Captain Cool MS Dhoni wasn’t coming out in the whites, and it was also evident when Dhoni himself retired from the longest format altogether.
At this juncture, a 26-year-old Virat Kohli was handed over the reins of the red-ball, when Test matches had effectively become the most boring and unimportant format for the whole cricket-watching generation. It was a very uphill task to lead a team lying in 7th place and in the transition phase. But how different Virat’s approach is going to be was made clear in the very first game. Up against chasing 363 against Australia at Adelaide in the fourth innings, the team decided to go for a win instead of an easy draw. India failed to win that day, but it marked the beginning of a new chapter in Indian cricket.
The Transformation of Test Team
From that day onwards, the Indian team that took the field, whether in India or overseas, was a different unit altogether. It was no longer scared of the outcome of the game or from taking on the opposition, irrespective of who it comprised. The team led by its captain was all over the opposition’s head as well as under their skin. The only thing that mattered to that team was the intent of winning and doing whatever was required for that. Virat, a global star, himself wanted to be an ambassador of the Test format. At a time when the young generation was more interested in quick-fire and masala leagues, Virat ensured that a huge chunk of them got attached to the oldest format of the game as well.
Virat became the first captain to win a series in Australia in 2018-19. Despite losing in England and Australia, it marked some famous wins in Trent Bridge and Johannesburg. In the next cycle, India ensured winning two big games in England — Oval and Lord’s — actually leading the series, in addition to another win in Centurion later that year. If the win Down Under came against an Australian unit, which lacked Warner and Smith, the next one in 2020-21 came against a full-strength Aussie side. Instead, it was the Indian Team that missed Virat and many other big names. The fact that India went to chase 329 in the fourth innings at Gabba, instead of going for a safe draw, was proof that the seeds sown by the skipper for a fearless and hungry team had finally borne fruit.
Rise and Fall
Virat, whose start in the longest format wasn’t as promising as it should’ve been, was soon able to replicate his white-ball success in the whites too. The calibre of the modern master was first showcased Down Under when he smashed four hundreds in four games while taking on some of the most dangerous Aussie quicks of the time. The phase of 2016-19 was very well, his peak, when he smashed runs in every corner of the planet. The fact that he has 20 centuries, including 7 double-hundreds as captain, speaks volumes. Whether it’s his gritty 149 in Edgbaston or the lone warrior 153 in Centurion, the class, the consistency and the hunger had swayed over everyone. Just the fact that he averaged over 50 and had close to 900 rating points in all three formats at one point makes him arguably the best batter of the modern era.
But, every peak also has a trough, an example of which is Virat’s Test form since 2020. The same modern master who was dominating on every continent was averaging at a meagre 30, and all this touched a new low since 2024, when his average fell somewhere below 20. Even in the 5 home games before the series in Australia, he faltered and faltered very badly. From getting out on a full-toss to getting run-out in the most underconfident manner, Virat was looking just a shadow of his former self. In Australia, he smashed a hundred in the very first game, but throughout the series after that, he failed to counter the outside off-stump trap laid by the Aussies.
After this series, many questions were being posed about Virat’s Test future, and speculations were rife about how long he would be able to extend his career, especially went the runs had dried up so much. Ultimately, on May 12, Virat took to his Instagram to write a heartfelt post announcing his retirement from the Test format. On expected lines, the news has been a shocker for fans and experts alike. Now, there are many conversations regarding what BCCI’s communications were with him, and was the decision was driven more by his own fatigue and disappointment or because of the strict call of the board. But instead of wasting my time speculating on that, I would prefer to reflect on Virat’s incredible career. The biggest regret, however, would be that even a star of his stature couldn’t get a proper farewell, and his last outing wasn’t a happy one (despite against his favourite rival).
The Legacy
Virat Kohli’s Test career ended at 9,230 runs with 30 centuries. The numbers aren’t the best among his contemporaries, but that doesn’t mean he won’t go down as one of the biggest names ever produced in Indian cricket. His legacy doesn’t just lie in numbers but in developing that resilient team and temperament which kept India such a huge force globally. If many generations later, someone does raise this question about whether Virat was actually a ‘great ‘ Test player, just put forth the fact that the team he inherited at the 7th position stood at the top of the rankings for five consecutive years, including multiple cycles of overseas tours. The very fact that Indian fans turn up today in the morning to watch India’s overseas test matches is a testament to what he has done for this game and this format.
Virat not getting his hands on the WTC mace, the ultimate prize in the format he cherished, is a fact that will always hurt, but also shows that sometimes even our best doesn’t ensure our success. Like many others, I too wanted Virat’s exit from the game coming in the Test, but that’s not how it’s meant to be. If that’s how it is, we have to respect that. But a great coincidence is that Virat’s last moment on a cricket ground was as a captain (stand-in skipper in Sydney). Without Virat, the excitement might not be the same, but a team always comes above any player. So I hope the fire ignited by Kohli is kept alive and burning by the new generation of Gill, Jaiswal and Pant, the test of which will come in England next month.
A very strong line I read somewhere, ‘Downside of getting attached to a sportsperson is a fact they die twice’. Today, I can resonate with the feeling quite well. I hadn’t felt as empty and blank as I did on the day of the announcement. Virat’s exit seems to have taken a part of me and all other cricket fans of this era, and in return, we are left with some memories and some inspiration that we can cherish for life. Thank you, Virat, for everything you did for this format, game and the country, and keep firing in your go-to format, the ODIs.
“For 60 overs, they should feel like hell”: Virat’s message to team before the iconic win at Lord’s
