‘Kohli My Favourite Cricketer’: DGMO Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai Reacts To Virat’s Test Retirement During Op Sindoor Press Briefing

Lt. General Rajiv Ghai called Virat Kohli his favourite cricketer while acknowledging his Test retirement during a press briefing on Operation Sindoor.

'Like many Indians, he is my favourite cricketer as well' said DGMO Lt. General Rajiv Ghai.

Source : PTI

Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army, said that Virat Kohli is his favourite cricketer during the press briefing by DGMOs of all three services on Operation Sindoor that India carried out in response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam last month.

“Maybe today I should talk about cricket too, because I saw that Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket. Like many Indians, he is my favourite cricketer as well. (Aaj shyd cricket ki baat bhi karni chahiye, kyuki mai dekh raha tha Virat Kohli ne Test cricket se retirement leli. Kayi bhaartiyo ki tarah mere bhi favourite cricketer hain),” said Lt. General Rajiv Ghai.

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket just days before India’s squad for the upcoming England tour in June was to be selected.

The 36-year-old batting icon, who began his red-ball journey in 2011, leaves behind a legacy that reshaped India’s approach to Test cricket. His decision comes shortly after captain Rohit Sharma also stepped away from the format.

'Tested Me, Shaped Me & Taught Me Lessons': Kohli On Test Retirement

In an emotional Instagram post, Virat Kohli called Test cricket a deeply personal journey that tested and shaped him, saying his decision to retire wasn’t easy but felt right, and expressed gratitude to the game, teammates, and fans.

"It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life. 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, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile,” Kohli wrote in the Instagram post.