One of the standout features that is unique to Virat Kohli among all the other greats is the intensity with which he has played the game. Whether the team was in a winning situation or in a losing one, it never would have shown how Kohli has carried himself on the field, especially in red-ball cricket. His retirement in red-ball format did come as a bit of a surprise, especially with a five-match Test series being the next assignment away from home in England.
Former England cricketer Nasser Hussain has speculated that it is Kohli’s reluctance to be a “normal cricketer” that might be part of the reason why he has decided to call it a day in the format. “He is the ultimate winner, he sees the end goal as a win, and he is desperate for that,” Hussain said on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.
“Everything for Kohli is about winning. Why do you think he’s so good in run chases? He can’t go on the field and not be a hundred per cent, he can’t ever go: ‘I’ll just do my best today,” Hussain said. “That may have formed part of his retirement decision, he doesn’t want to be a normal cricketer, just doing a little bit here and there. He made India into the force they are today.”
“I have been a massive fan over the last 14 years – his stats speak for themselves – but he was so much more than that. It was his aura, swagger, and passion. We know Indian cricket fans, and the game means so much to them,” said Hussain. “They want their captain to show them what it means to the team, and no one embodied that passion for cricket in India more than Kohli. He was an unbelievable player.
Kohli is statistically the best Indian captain, having a win percentage of 58.8, winning 40 of the 68 games he led. “He took India to No. 1 in the world, and they stayed there for about 42 months. He completely changed the way they play cricket. Whoever takes on that mantle has got something to live up to,” added Hussain.
Kohli has inherited the number four spot from and Hussain’s co-host said,” “We’re not sure who is going to take his place at No 4 yet, and you kind of pity the person who has to follow because you’ve just had about 15 years of Kohli and before that, it was Sachin Tendulkar.”
“You couldn’t take your eyes off Kohli, that’s what I always felt like watching him,” Atherton said.
“It was noticeable to me that in his retirement statement, he referenced the challenges that Test cricket had given him. I loved watching him play every day of his 123 Tests. He put his heart and soul into Test cricket, and that energy and passion never seemed to dim,” he added.
