Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo.
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney [January 3-5, 2025].
On 5th January, 2025, Virat Kohli stepped out for the last time in a test match. India were playing Australia in Sydney. The hosts were leading the series 2-1 and were on the verge of winning the final test as well. The target was not a big one. But the pitch had a lot for the bowlers. Unfortunately, Bumrah suffered an injury due to which we were a bowler short in the most crucial phase of the series. Moreover, Rohit Sharma was also not playing the test, which meant that Virat Kohli was the stand-in captain for Team India.
Interestingly, the visitors started strong and reduced the Aussies to 58/3. At one point everyone felt that India could pull it out in Sydney. However, Usman Khwaja, along with Travis Head, stitched a crucial partnership of 46 runs and took Australia to a dominant position. Even though Khwaja was later dismissed for 41, it was not going to take much time for the in-form hosts, and the duo of Travis Head and Beau Webster made sure that the Aussies chased it down comfortably. Webster hit the winning runs as the Aussies won the match by 6 wickets and thus lifted the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after 10 long years.
The Aussies erupted with joy. After all, they have struggled to beat India on the previous four occasions. Whereas there was sadness around the Indian Camp, who had now suffered two back-to-back test series defeats. Something which they have not experienced for a long time. It was almost certain that the management would take some tough calls. However, back then no one knew that it was the last time we saw Virat Kohli in whites.
Four months later, on 12th May, 2025, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket. The cricketing world was shocked. No one could believe their eyes. The Beloved King has hung his boots from the format he loved the most. It was a heartbreaking moment for everyone who loved Test Cricket.
After all, the biggest ambassador of the sport has just left. However, it is quite interesting to note that the country which saw Kohli's transition from prince to king also saw his end. In 2011, as a 23-year-old youngster, he stepped for the very first time on the Australian shore. Even back then we were undergoing a transition phase, and this is when Kohli peaked. His century in Adelaide was a statement to the cricketing world that the successor of the great Sachin Tendulkar has arrived.
2014-15 saw the transformation of Kohli into a modern-day great. Who could ever forget his historic BGT Down Under. Not only did he score loads of runs [692 to be precise with 4 centuries], but he also became the captain of a young Indian Test team. Sydney was the city, and SCG was the ground where Kohli took over the charge as the Indian Test Captain.
Yes, we lost that series 0-2, and we were ranked 7th in the ICC Test Rankings. But 4 years later things completely changed under Captain Kohli. Not only did we hammer the Aussies 2-1, but we were also the number 1 Test Side of the World. The redemption was well and truly complete.
Six years later things were similar to 2011-12, but this time it was Kohli who was in the final phase of his career. A country which saw his rise also saw his fall. In the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he managed just one good knock in the entire Australian summer. Barring his hundred in Perth, he could not breach the 50-run mark in the remaining innings. Though one cannot deny the fact that apart from Jaiswal, no other batsman performed well in those tough conditions. So it was quite cruel on the part of Kohli to announce his retirement after failing in one cricket season.
He would have definitely performed well in England. But, alas, Kohli decided to retire from Test Cricket. The Whites lost its color as the King bid farewell.
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