As Virat Kohli wraps up his Test career, he will be remembered as a key player and captain who worked hard to elevate the status of Test cricket. Under his leadership, India achieved remarkable successes, particularly in challenging overseas conditions. Kohli’s Test record is impressive, but few are aware of the personal sacrifices he made in the later part of his career. While his batting form declined in recent years, his decisions were driven by a selfless goal.
The Selfless Strategy: Virat Kohli’s Sacrifice for Team Success
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch, speaking on Jio Star, shared how Kohli pushed for spin-friendly pitches in India for home Tests. Although this strategy helped the team perform better, it also impacted his own batting results.
“What really stands out to me about Virat’s leadership is that you can look at his numbers now and say they’re not as good as they were five years ago. But he was playing on some wickets in India that were spinning hugely from day one. It was about putting your own ego aside to say, ‘What’s the best thing for my team right now to win a Test match against this opposition?'” Finch said.
“They could have rolled out some flat wickets and said, ‘I’m going to cash in on my own runs and make sure that my record stacks up with some of the all-time greats,’ but he put his own ego aside and said, ‘I want what’s best for my team to win this match,'” Finch added.
Ravi Shastri’s Praise for Kohli’s Leadership Choices
“Brilliant point, and it sounds better when it comes from you rather than me,” said former India coach Ravi Shastri, who was also part of the discussion on the day of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders match in IPL 2025.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli might return to England soon – but not for India. After retiring from Test cricket, he could play red-ball cricket for Middlesex at Lord’s. The club is reportedly interested in signing him for a stint at the historic ground.
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