As Virat Kohli walks away from Test cricket, a chapter closes not just in his career but in the history of Indian sport. This is no ordinary retirement. Kohli didn’t just bat. He burned. He carried with him the hopes of a billion people and often, the fire to win for them. His journey was never merely about numbers, though those were formidable. It was about transformation ~ of the self, of a team, and of a nation’s cricketing identity. Kohli arrived at a time when Indian cricket was transitioning from the golden era of the Tendulkars and Dravids to a new, unformed future.

He didn’t just fill the vacuum; he reshaped the mold entirely. With his defiant attitude, unmatched fitness, and relentless drive, Kohli brought an edge India had often lacked ~ especially overseas. He led with his heart on his sleeve........

© The Statesman