Never gave up, but well left

The Unforgettable Kohli Era: A Legacy That Will Be Remembered Forever

- SANDEEP DWIVEDI

WITHIN DAYS OF Rohit Sharma calling time on his Test career, Virat Kohli followed suit and announced his retirement from the longest format. Was he quick to read the room after the abrupt end to Rohit's Test innings? With talk of Shubman Gill's coronation at 25, did he sense palace intrigue and a subtle signal to him? Or was it the case of the 36-year-old father of two and an undisputed batting great no longer having that famous drive to deal with the demons in the head that mess with muscle memory?

Days before the team for the England tour was to be announced, Kohli shared his decision with the world on Instagram: "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. I've given it everything I had...I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile."

The post had Frank Sinatra singing his 'I did it my way' song in the background, reminding that a career of 123 Tests which brought a little less than 10,000 runs too might not be totally fulfilling. "Regrets, I've had a few, But then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do," goes the song's lyrics.

Though, of late, Kohli had been finding it tough to do what he had to. In that context, this England tour miss is actually a judicious 'well left'. It is a grim reminder of the reality of ageing. Kohli still has a gym-sculpted body and is Bolt between wickets. But the fittest too can get jaded, the driven too slow down, and even Kings call it a day.