Is Kohli the Most Marvellous Ambassador for Indian Cricket?

New Delhi, May 12 (NationPress) Following the announcement of his retirement from Test cricket, former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna praised Virat Kohli, hailing him as an extraordinary ambassador for Indian cricket and labeling him a once-in-a-generation talent whose successor will be difficult to find.

Kohli, who debuted in Test cricket in 2011, revealed his decision to retire from the longest format via a social media message on Monday. He concluded his Test journey with 9,230 runs from 123 matches, holding an impressive average of 46.85 along with 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.

This announcement followed a surprising retirement from Test cricket by Rohit Sharma just a week ago.

"It's a somber day... Throughout his international career, Virat Kohli has exemplified integrity. The runs and centuries he amassed—along with the style in which he scored them—demonstrate his remarkable longevity in the sport.

"Great players instinctively know when it's time to step down. Recently, Rohit Sharma also declared his retirement from Test cricket. Both Virat and Rohit have been phenomenal batsmen who earned global recognition, particularly Kohli," Khanna shared with IANS.

Since taking over the Test captaincy in 2014, Kohli has led India in 68 matches, achieving 40 victories between 2014 and 2022, making him the most successful Indian captain in Test history in terms of wins.

"I believe his retirement is a significant loss for cricket itself. Players may come and go, but Virat is a rare talent that appears once in a generation. I anticipated he would continue for another couple of years, especially given his enjoyment of T20 cricket and his current form—he's back in touch.

"Such exceptional talents are not easily found or replaced. While many promising cricketers will emerge in the future, individuals like Virat, Rohit, Tendulkar, and Gavaskar are true generational gems.

"Every cricketer faces challenges, but talent endures. A temporary slump in form shouldn't lead to questioning their capabilities. That, in my view, is unjust," he added.

Kohli's 30 Test centuries place him as the fourth most successful Indian batsman, trailing behind Sachin Tendulkar (51 hundreds), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34). Additionally, he holds the record for the most Test double centuries by an Indian, with seven, and the highest number of Test hundreds as captain, eclipsing Gavaskar's 11 centuries with his own 20 tons.

"My heart is indeed heavy today, but I want to convey this to Virat: You have captured the hearts of millions around the globe with your cricketing prowess. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Please continue playing T20s—at least that way, we can still enjoy your gameplay. Also, consider playing in the 2027 World Cup for India. Your batting brings immense joy to all of us. We salute you. You have been a remarkable and fantastic ambassador for Indian cricket," Khanna concluded.