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.”
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 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.
“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 batting average of 46.85.
“ is the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we’ve ever seen,” Chappell wrote.
“He was – a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself,” he said.
Referring to the times when the Indian teams struggled in overseas test, Chappell wrote,”There was a time when Indian cricket, particularly overseas, bore an air of respectful submission – playing with technical skill, yes, but often with psychological inferiority.”
“That changed in stages. gave Indian cricket a new spine. MS Dhoni brought ice-cold leadership and white-ball dominance. But Kohli? Kohli lit the fire. He tore the script and authored a new one, where India was not just competitive abroad but expected to win,” he explained.
Greg Chappell also termed Virat Kohli as the most Australian non-Australian cricketer. “He was the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we’ve ever seen – a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself,” wrote Chappell.
Kohli’s retirement pushes Indian cricket to a transformation era where a completely new team and new captain will travel to England this year in the summer.
