Virat Kohli: A champion who managed to understand his 'Shortcomings'

Virat Kohli, one of the greatest batters of this generation and possibly of all time, has made the 'tough decision' to retire from Test cricket.

His retirement announcement sent waves of regret through his fans around the world.

He might regret not playing a farewell test match, not getting the milestone of 10,000 test runs, and perhaps not getting his momentum despite his efforts.

Yet, these regrets only made Kohli even more human. He fought hard to regain his touch, but the shortcomings he faced in the latter stages of his Test career are what shaped his legacy, both as a cricketer and as a person.

Rise of a champion

Kohli began his Test saga back in 2012, when he announced himself to the world with his first Test ton at Adelaide against the formidable Australia.

Scoring a century on Australian soil is a dream for any cricketer, but Kohli made it his very first.

Kohli's most challenging phase came in 2014, during India's tour of England.

In cold English conditions, Kohli failed miserably, averaging just 13.40. That year, he realised his shortcomings and made a firm resolve to improve.

Transformation: From struggles to success

Kohli's mental strength, one of his defining characteristics, helped him transform from a chubby teenager from Delhi to one of the fittest athletes the game has ever seen.

Being inspired by idols like Cristiano Ronaldo the Delhi boy took fitness to another level what any would envy of. He worked relentlessly on his technique and physical conditioning, setting the standard for future generations of cricketers withing and beyond India.

After he failed in England, Kohli returned in 2018 and conquered the same conditions. He scored a remarkable 593 runs in that series, averaging 59.30, proving that setbacks only fueled his growth. His resurgence was a testament to his ability to bounce back, to take failure and turn it into success.

Kohli as a Test skipper, torch bearer of leadership

As a captain, Kohli elevated India's Test cricket to new heights. Under his leadership, India achieved historic triumphs, most notably their first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19.

Kohli led India to 40 Test wins in 68 matches, surpassing the records of MS Dhoni (27 wins) and Sourav Ganguly (21 wins). His win rate as captain remains one of the best in the world, and he was instrumental in shaping an aggressive, fit, and fearless team.

Kohli's captaincy revolutionised Indian Test cricket. Focusing on fitness, fast bowling, and mental toughness, he began an era.

His belief in his fast bowlers helped India become a dominant force, not just at home but also in overseas conditions. But, even in his peak years, Kohli faced challenges as a batter, particularly after 2019.

The Decline

From 2019 onwards, Kohli's batting began to show visible signs of decline. His average dropped from 54 pre-COVID to 46.85 by the time of his retirement, a sharp fall considering his previous dominance.

His struggles with off-stump deliveries, mental fatigue, and the pressures of leading all formats began to take their toll.

Despite his continued brilliance in ODIs' and T20Is', where he remained one of the best in the world, his Test career was no longer the same. While Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson kept their standards high, Kohli found himself unable to keep pace with his contemporaries in the Test arena.

Root, in particular, enjoyed a prolific run, scoring 3,200+ runs with 12 centuries from 2020 to 2023. Smith and Williamson also maintained consistent performances, while Kohli's batting faltered.

Accepting his limitations

Kohli's struggles became more apparent after 2021. In 34 innings, he was dismissed 24 times by pacers, many of those dismissals coming from deliveries he previously would have left or played with confidence.

In 2023, for the first time in his career, Kohli was stumped in a Test match, off the bowling of Todd Murphy — a sign that his once rock-solid game was no longer impenetrable.

Through it all, Kohli continued to fight. He made technical adjustments, worked on his shot selection, and tried to reclaim his former glory.

But with each passing series, it became clearer that his body and mind were beginning to show the signs of wear and tear.

His weaknesses — especially against pace bowlers, spinners, and leg spinners — became more noticeable. He understood that the time had come to step away from the format that had given him so much success and also so much pain.

In the end, Kohli's decision to retire from Test cricket was not just about the runs he scored or the records he broke. It was about his journey — a journey of self-improvement, overcoming adversity, and accepting limitations.

His career was defined by his relentless desire to be the best, his leadership, and his ability to evolve. But it was also marked by his humility in acknowledging his shortcomings and stepping aside when the time was right.

Virat Kohli's Test career will be remembered for many reasons — his centuries, his leadership, and his resilience. But above all, he will be remembered as a champion who understood his shortcomings and worked tirelessly to overcome them. As he moves on from Test cricket, the world of cricket will miss the passion, intensity, and hunger that Kohli brought to the game.