Australian batting nice Greg Chappell feels Virat Kohli’s Test retirement “marks the end of a thunderous era” by which he managed to “eclipse” the nice Sachin Tendulkar by way of making a cultural and psychological influence on India’s cricketing id.
Writing in his column for ‘ESPNCricinfo’, Chappell, a former India head coach stated Kohli’s over a decade lengthy profession in the format that started in 2011, was a “reign forged in grit, fire, and audacity.”
“It closes the chapter on the most transformative figure in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar; perhaps Kohli even eclipses him in terms of cultural influence and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity,” Chappell wrote.
“Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century,” he added.
The 36-year-old Kohli introduced his retirement on Monday, declaring that he’s strolling away with a coronary heart filled with gratitude despite the fact that it was not a straightforward choice to make.
“Virat Kohli is the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we’ve ever seen,” Chappell wrote.
“He was – a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself,” he stated.
Chappell stated Kohli’s exit from Tests marks a “seismic shift in energy”.
“There was a time when Indian cricket, particularly overseas, bore an air of respectful submission – playing with technical skill, yes, but often with psychological inferiority.
“That modified in levels. Sourav Ganguly gave Indian cricket a brand new backbone. MS Dhoni introduced ice-cold management and white-ball dominance. But Kohli? Kohli lit the hearth. He tore the script and authored a brand new one, the place India was not simply aggressive overseas however anticipated to win,” he explained.
Crediting Kohli for single-handedly revamping India’s Test approach as captain, Chappell described the aggressive right-hander as an exceptionally perceptive man.
“Where others reacted, Kohli anticipated. He noticed innings earlier than they unfolded. He lived the stress earlier than it arrived.
“Yes, Tendulkar was a genius. Yes, Dhoni was a master tactician and an ice-cold finisher. But in the grand reckoning of Indian cricket history, Kohli has been its most influential figure,” he stated.
“Why? Because he changed not just results but mindsets.”
Published – May 13, 2025 04:03 am IST
