New Delhi: Virat Kohli’s abrupt retirment could have far-reaching consequences since no one has done more for Test cricket in the last 30 years, believes former England skipper Michael Vaughan.
Kohli announced his retirement from red-ball cricket after 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, hitting 30 centuries, also leading India to the No. 1 spot in the Test rankings and a memorable series victory in Australia in 2018-19.
“There are not too many Test retirements where I am left genuinely disappointed that I won’t watch a cricketer play again. But I’m gutted we won’t see Virat Kohli in England this summer or in whites any more,” Vaughan wrote for British publication the Telegraph.
“I’m shocked that he’s retiring now, and I’m also quite sad about it. In my time involved in the game, stretching back more than 30 years, I don’t believe there is any individual who has done more for the Test format than Virat.”
Apart from being India’s most successful Test captain with 40 wins in 68 Tests, Vaughan pointed out that Kohli brought back love for the traditional format, and his absence would make it bland.
“When he took the captaincy just over a decade ago, I was worried India was losing interest in Test cricket,” Vaughan wrote.
“MS Dhoni was one of the great white-ball players but it felt like he captained a Test team who did not love the format. The game needs India to be madly in love with Test cricket, and that is what Virat fostered as captain.”
Vaughan rated the 36-year-old Kohli as the greatest player across all formats and explained why his retirement is a blody blow to Test cricket.
“His passion, skill, and the way he talked about Test cricket always being the pinnacle has been a huge shot in the arm for the format. Test cricket would have been a far blander place without him, and there is a chance it would have lost its appeal if he had not been as interested and invested in it.
“His retirement now is a blow to Test cricket and very disappointing for fans – not least in England this summer – but my belief is that he has helped forge a love for the format among the generation that will follow him, and kept the flame burning,” the former right hand batter said.
“It’s impossible to compare across every era, but if you look at since T20 came in around 20 years ago, he is almost certainly the greatest player when you consider all three formats.”
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from red-ball cricket after 9230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, hitting 30 centuries Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
