When Virat Kohli first stepped into the jersey of the National men’s cricket team, he was bursting with talents, skills and aggression. He had brought with him a bold and unapologetic passion for the game that hadn’t been witnessed by cricket fans in many years. His dedication to cricket was unquestionable, but his temper on the field put doubts in the minds of critics about whether he was emotionally mature enough to lead the team.
However, with his resilience and focus, Virat Kohli dispelled all doubts about his leadership qualities. The cricketer redefined what it meant to be a leader. As the captain of the team, Kohli set a benchmark of excellence. He demanded every member of his team to bring perfection to the game, himself included. The fieriness and intensity that Virat Kohli had as a young cricketer transformed into patience and fearlessness. As Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, here is a look at the remarkable journey of the cricketer from a young rebel to an inspiring captain.
Virat Kohli’s aggression on and off the field earned him a reputation for having an unchecked attitude
Virat Kohli has never shied away from a confrontation. Throughout his cricket career, the sportsman has engaged in various physical or verbal altercations with players from the opposite teams. He had also been recorded on camera using swear words during tense game moments while playing on the field. Even when he played for the Under 19 team, he would throw attitude around the field to try and show the opposition players that he was the boss.
Virat Kohli has often stated that he has a competitive streak and does not like losing. His on-field behaviour often comes from this determination to not fail at the game at all. When Virat Kohli made his National cricket debut in 2008, he became a star player with his exceptional performance. Then, he played in a Test series for the first time in 2011 against West Indies. By this time, the player had become a crucial part of India’s batting line-up, but his attitude and aggression had become the hot topics of discussion among cricket experts. Kohli’s on-field behaviour was deemed potentially detrimental to his career.
Virat Kohli’s on-field intensity was proportional to his love for the game and determination to win
Virat Kohli has always been popular for his unapologetic persona, despite receiving criticism for his behaviour while playing on the field. But the cricketer has always maintained the fact that his aggression and intensity on the field come from his extreme passion for the game. His aggression did not come from ego, rather it was how the batsman channelled his passion into pure skills in the game. Virat Kohli has always considered his aggression to be a natural part of his competitiveness. The cricketer has also never apologised for the behaviour that many had criticised.
Virat Kohli has never let anything waver his focus from the game. His competitiveness and intensity have always made him strive for perfection. The cricketer had an obsession and insatiable hunger for performing the best, and staying in top form. There was a time, after going from the junior team to the senior team, when Kohli had lost focus on the game and was mostly partying and eating unhealthy. But after realisation hit him, the cricketer starved himself and did rigorous diets and fitness training. Virat Kohli has always followed this cycle in his career. Every time the batsman felt that he was lacking on the field, he worked on himself excessively, off the field.
Virat Kohli became a calculated captain who led India to the most victories
Though his aggression was a topic of discussion for many years, everyone was aware of the fact that no matter what, Virat Kohli would not let anything hinder his performance. As a result, the fiery cricketer was made the Test captain of India’s cricket team in 2015. A change had come over Kohli after being given this chance to lead the team. The cricketer brought a balance of aggression and calmness to the field. He would demand excellence from his team-mates, but at the same time, he also led them with resilience through tense game moments. With the responsibility of the whole team on his shoulders, Virat Kohli’s aggression lightened up naturally.
More than a great batsman in Test cricket, Kohli has always been remembered as the best captain of Team India. Under his captaincy, India won 40 out of 68 Test matches. The main characteristics that defined Virat Kohli were competitiveness, obsession with fitness and raw intensity. All of these ideas were also implemented into the Indian cricket team under his leadership. The Indian cricket team became a force to be reckoned, with all of its members bursting with aggression, at the top of their physical form and competitive to their core. Once doubted for his sportsmanship spirit, Virat Kohli led the Indian team to a win percentage of 58% under his captaincy.
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, but the culture he instilled in Indian cricket remains intact
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket, days after Rohit Sharma did the same. Ahead of the England tour, Kohli sent a wave of shock among the public with his Test retirement. Taking to his social media, Kohli bid goodbye to Test cricket and wrote:
“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever. As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right.”
Even though Virat Kohli’s retirement has been shocking, it also shows his growth as a person in his real life, beyond the cricket pitch. Once he was insatiable for the grind and difficulty of the game, but perhaps now the cricketer feels content enough to say goodbye to the white jersey of Test cricket.
What are your thoughts on Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket?
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