Virat Kohli, a leading batsman for the Indian cricket team, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday. Kohli shared this decision via a post on his official social media accounts.
Sports News: Virat Kohli, a shining star of Indian cricket and a source of pride for India in Test cricket, recently announced his retirement from this format. Having scored 9230 runs in 123 Test matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries, Virat began his Test career in 2011. His decision has sent ripples through the cricketing world.
Virat Kohli's cricketing journey has seen him set numerous records, but some dreams remain unfulfilled. Let's look at five major aspirations that Virat Kohli will now be unable to achieve.
1. Never Playing Test Cricket Against Pakistan
Kohli's dream of playing Test cricket against Pakistan remains unfulfilled. However, this was not due to any fault of Kohli's; bilateral Test series between India and Pakistan have been completely suspended since his Test debut. Consequently, Virat Kohli never played Test cricket against Pakistan.
Cricket enthusiasts always express regret over this situation, as a match against Pakistan could have been a significant and memorable moment in Virat's career.
2. Missing Out on 10,000 Test Runs
Virat Kohli's performance in Test cricket was truly inspiring. He was very close to reaching the 10,000-run mark in Test cricket, but he will no longer have the opportunity to achieve this dream. Had he continued playing, particularly during the England tour, he might have crossed this milestone.
Kohli was only 770 runs short, and achieving this would have made him the fourth Indian batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs, following Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. This dream, however, will remain unfulfilled.
3. Unclaimed Record for Most Centuries in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy
In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (against Australia), Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar are jointly ranked first with 9 centuries each. Had Virat Kohli continued playing Test cricket for a few more years, he could have become the Indian batsman with the most centuries in this trophy. However, this dream will also remain unrealized due to his retirement.
4. Falling Short of 100 International Centuries
Virat Kohli dreamt of achieving the record of 100 international centuries, a feat accomplished by Sachin Tendulkar. However, Virat Kohli no longer has the time to break this record. He has retired from T20 Internationals and will now only play One Day Internationals. He needed 18 more centuries, but with indications of the end of his ODI career also approaching, this dream will remain unfulfilled.
5. Unattained Record for Most Runs in the WTC (World Test Championship)
Virat Kohli performed exceptionally well in the World Test Championship, but he trailed behind Rohit Sharma. Rohit Sharma scored 2716 runs in 40 matches, while Virat Kohli scored 2617 runs in 46 matches. Had Virat Kohli not retired, he might have broken Rohit's record. This too remains an unfulfilled ambition.
Following Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket, it's safe to say he leaves behind some unfinished dreams. However, Virat has left an indelible mark on the cricketing world, and his career will always be remembered. Whether it's the dream of playing a Test match against Pakistan or scoring 10,000 runs, Virat Kohli's contribution will always be remembered. He will remain an icon and inspiration for cricket lovers.
