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, 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…
— (@ShubmanGill)
“I know how much Test cricket meant to you, and I hope our generation can carry forward that same fire and commitment. Thank you for everything. Happy retirement, @imVkohli paji,” he added.
The 36-year-old Kohli brought down the curtains on a prolific red-ball career, spanning 14 years and 123 Tests. The batter made his Test debut against the West Indies on June 20, 2011, in Kingston.
Kohli had since gone on to become India’s most successful batter in the previous decade between 2010 and 2019. Kohli was the third-highest Test run-getter in the period, piling on 7202 runs at 54.97 average and 27 centuries, the most by any batter in the time.
However, the India No. 4’s stocks dwindled drastically post-COVID in 2020, aggregating only 2028 runs in 68 innings with three centuries and nine fifties. Incidentally, Kohli’s 30.72 average is the lowest among all 24 Test batters who have aggregated at least 2000 runs since 2020.
