‘You’ll Always Be Our Captain Kohli’: Irfan Pathan, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Others After Virat Kohli Quits Test Captaincy

Royal Challengers Bangalore lauded its former captain writing: “Thank you for the memories, King! You’ll always be our Captain Kohli.”

Photo: Twitter/RCBTweets

New Delhi: Social media is flooded with reactions as Virat Kohli on Saturday announced his decision to step down as the Indian cricket team’s Test captain after the series defeat against South Africa. 

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, cricketers Irfan Pathan, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, and many more appreciated Virat’s contribution to the Indian cricket team while scores of fans are sharing emotional reactions on Twitter.

BCCI congratulated Virat Kohli for “his admirable leadership qualities that took the Test team to unprecedented heights”. 

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah congratulated him for a tremendous tenure as Team India captain, writing how “Virat turned the team into a ruthless fit unit that performed admirably both in India and away. The Test wins in Australia & England have been special”.

Irfan Pathan wrote that “Whenever the talk of Indian cricket captains will arise in test cricket @imVkohli‘s name will be up there, not only for results but the kind of impact he had as a captain. Thank you #ViratKohli”.

Virender Sehwag lauded Virat noting “Stats don't lie & he was not only the most successful Indian Test Captain but one of the most successful in the world”. 

Koo App

Many Congratulations #ViratKohli on an outstanding career as India’s Test Captain. Stats don’t lie & he was not only the most successful Indian Test Captain but one of the most successful in the world. Can be very proud of what you have achievedfir the team and the game & looking forward to watch you dominate many years with the bat.

 

- Virender Sehwag (@VirenderSehwag) 15 Jan 2022

Vinod Kambli has called Virat Kohli “One of the greatest test captain ever”. 

Koo App

Winning overseas tests became normal only under @virat.kohli leadership. One of the greatest test captain ever. Respect and #ThankyouKingKohli

 

- Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli) 15 Jan 2022

Honouring the ex-skipper’s contribution, Wasim Jaffer wrote: “When Virat took over as Test captain, India winning a test overseas was an achievement, now if India lose an overseas test series it is an upset. And that's how far he has taken Indian cricket forward, and that will be his legacy.”

Koo App

When Virat took over as Test captain, India winning a test overseas was an achievement, now if India lose an overseas test series it is an upset. And that’s how far he has taken Indian cricket forward, and that will be his legacy. Congratulations on successful reign Virat 👏🏻

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- Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) 15 Jan 2022

Parthiv Patel also congratulated Virat Kohli “for a fine innings as captain.”

Several IPL teams also honoured Virat Kohli through their tweets. Here are some of them:

Royal Challengers Bangalore lauded its former captain writing: “Thank you for the memories, King! You’ll always be our Captain Kohli.”

 

The star batter had taken over the job in the year 2004 as two-time World Cup-winning skipper MS Dhoni’s replacement. 

Virat Kohli has captained the national team in 68 Test matches. Under his captaincy, Team India has won 40 matches and lost 17.

Between 2016 and 2018, Virat Kohli was at the peak of his form in international cricket as he was almost scoring a ton every 5 innings. However, he has been under the scanner for some time. The ex-India skipper has failed to score an international ton for two straight years now.

Last year, Virat had stepped down as team India's T20 skipper ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after which the Board of Control for Cricket in India had removed him as India's ODI captain as the senior team's selectors did not want more than one captain for white-ball format.