Virat Kohli Retires from Tests: As the Master steps aside, apprentices get to work on the game’s biggest stage

Virat Kohli is a man who is driven by the relentless pursuit of greatness. When it comes to  pushing boundaries, it’s his sheer physicality and intensity that stand out. He has an  insatiable appetite for redefining excellence. 

Let me share a story that perfectly captures who Virat is. During a Test series when England  was touring India, I was also on commentating duty. In one of the Tests, Kohli scored a  magnificent hundred one day—one of those innings that leaves you in awe. After the end of  the day’s play, I headed to the gym, and to my surprise, Kohli was there too. On the  treadmill. In full flow. Absolutely punishing himself. 

It must have been 40 degrees outside, and he had another day of batting ahead. But here  he was, not resting, not recovering—relentlessly pushing himself. I couldn’t help but ask  him, “You’ve just batted all day, and you’ve got to bat again tomorrow. Why aren’t you  resting?” And he looked at me and said, “Because nobody else is doing this. And I want to  be number one. I want to be the best there’s ever been. So, I must do the things nobody  else is willing to do.” 

That moment stayed with me, and it said everything about the man. I remember walking  out of that gym thinking—wow. So that’s what it takes, that’s the level of commitment  required to be truly great. 

Here was a guy who wasn’t just talking about excellence. He wasn’t relying on talent or  hoping things would fall into place. He was making it happen—through sheer will,  discipline, and effort. 

What struck me most was how clearly, he understood the link between physical and  mental strength. He knew that if he was in peak physical condition—doing more than  anyone else—he’d be mentally sharper, more confident, more resilient. That moment was  a window into who Virat Kohli really is: a man prepared to push every limit, to outwork every  opponent, and to chase greatness with everything he’s got. 

A fiery Test captain 

His on-field persona is a raw, honest reflection of what he’s feeling inside. Some might  think it’s theatrical at times—but it’s not an act. It’s the fire. The intensity. The sheer  passion that burns so fiercely within him.

There are countless moments in his career that show this. As a captain, he led from the  front—not just with runs, but with emotion, with belief. He had this rare ability to carry an  entire team on a wave of energy. As a teammate, you wanted to follow him. You were  inspired by him. 

Take the Lord’s Test in 2021, for example. That now-famous team talk before they stepped  out to bowl England out—it was electric. That moment, that speech, turned a situation that  looked like a draw into one of India’s most memorable overseas victories. And then, of  course, there’s his batsmanship—undeniably world-class. So many examples, so many  innings that underline why he’s considered one of the greats. 

What made Kohli the best so special? 

There is one more moment I want to talk about. It was during the 2020 Test series, I believe,  when India played England in Chennai during the COVID era. James Anderson had the ball  reversing, and from our commentary position—perfectly placed behind the stumps—we  could see the ball swinging in the air. And watching Kohli face Anderson that day was  something special. The precision in his batting was simply astonishing. 

The ball was reversing late, but Kohli’s eyes were locked onto it. His ability to track the  swing, wait until the very last second, and then make a decision—it was flawless. I  watched him for about half an hour, completely captivated. Every movement, every choice  was perfect. 

That day, he looked like a man at the absolute peak of his powers. Everything was in sync— his eyes, his footwork, his judgement. And it stood out even more because the other top class Indian batters around him seemed to be finding it much harder. Kohli, by contrast,  was in complete control. 

Ironically, in the years that followed, he’s struggled a bit with judging the off-stump line. But  on that day, his judgement was impeccable. He read every ball with total clarity. 

Kohli is a deeply thoughtful cricketer, he has to be, to reach the heights he has. Always  analysing, always trying to solve problems. But that kind of mind can walk a fine line— sometimes you risk overthinking. Maybe that’s played a part in some of the challenges he’s  faced more recently. Test cricket, after all, is the ultimate examination—it wears you down  physically and mentally. Eventually, it gets to everyone. If all your senses aren’t fully alert  every moment, it’s hard to maintain consistency—especially at the level Kohli has  demanded of himself for so long.

The genius that Virat is 

I remember speaking with Virat just a few weeks ago—after one of the IPL games. I asked  him a simple question: What makes you such a brilliant run-chaser in one-day cricket? His  answer was fascinating. It gave a real glimpse into how his mind works. He spoke about  how everything is meticulously planned. Every chase, every phase of the innings is thought  through strategically. He’s acutely aware of the match situation—the target, the required  rate, which bowlers have overs left, and what the pitch is doing. It is as if there is a  computer in his mind running calculations in real time, breaking the game down piece by  piece. That level of awareness, that mental sharpness, is what has powered so much of his  success—not just in ODIs, but throughout his Test career as well. 

Of course, a player like Virat is irreplaceable—that goes without saying. But right now,  India’s batting line-up is as rich and promising as it’s ever been. With both Rohit and Virat  stepping away from the red-ball game, the team may have lost some of its star power—its  stardust—but what’s coming through is a wave of immense young talent. 

Coming back to his captaincy, Virat’s tenure coincided with the emergence of a fierce pace  battery, and that was pivotal. But I believe the groundwork was laid by MS Dhoni. He  recognised the importance of winning overseas and understood the need for a group of  incisive fast bowlers who could make an impact with the new ball. 

When Virat took over, he had at his disposal a world-class pace attack. His true brilliance  lay in how he used them—understanding their individual strengths and deploying them  tactically to maximum effect. It was the perfect storm: the vision MS Dhoni had initiated,  and the leadership Virat brought to execute that vision on the field. That’s a big reason why  India became such a formidable force away from home during his captaincy. 

To be a Virat Kohli in a cricket-crazy country 

Virat’s emotions on the field could sometimes spill over—they’d get the better of him on  occasion. But that intensity was never about theatrics. It reflected the fire burning inside  him. He had this win at all costs mentality, and nothing was going to get in his way. And  frankly, that’s a trait shared by most elite athletes at the very top of their game. It’s not  about suppressing the emotion; it’s about channelling it. And for the most part, Virat  managed that incredibly well.

What I’ve always admired—beyond just the skill—is how he handled the immense public  scrutiny. Those of us lucky enough to work in India in a cricketing capacity know how  intense the environment is. The pressure on Indian players is staggering—constant  attention, relentless expectation, and near-religious fandom. And yet, through all that, he  carried himself with grace and resilience, though there were the odd moments when it  spilled over. That, to me, is a great tribute to his character. 

I’ve said this publicly before: when you play against India, it never feels like you’re playing  just 11 men. It feels like you’re playing against an entire nation. And now, with Virat  stepping away from Test cricket, that nation has lost one of its most cherished sons. His  absence will be deeply felt. 

One last point I’d like to touch on is practice. If you study the best players in any sport, one  common denominator is their obsession with preparation. That appetite to train—to refine,  to improve—is relentless. I see it when I travel and commentate. I watch how players  approach training. And with Virat, it’s unmistakable. 

He’s always one of the first to arrive and the last to leave. But it’s not just about being  there—it’s about how he trains. The intensity he brings to the nets is like a match situation.  Every ball matters. Every session is treated like a final. It’s not just another day of training;  it’s everything. That level of dedication—that mindset—is a huge reason he’s reached the  heights he has. 

All of this—his passion, his mindset, his work ethic, his leadership—makes Virat Kohli not  just one of India’s greatest cricketers, but one of the most complete modern athletes  we’ve seen.