Virat Kohli’s Test career has come to an end, leaving a void in international cricket. Australian media has hailed the Indian batting legend, praising his incredible skill and fierce competitiveness on the field.
Aussie Media’s Tribute
The Sydney Morning Herald noted that Australians were drawn to Kohli’s unique blend of batting prowess and fiery passion. They highlighted his debut series in Australia in 2011-12, where despite the team’s 4-0 loss, Kohli showed remarkable courage, scoring a century in Adelaide. The newspaper also mentioned the controversy surrounding his gesture towards the SCG crowd, marking the beginning of a love-hate relationship with Australian fans that continued until his final Test day.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) focused on Kohli’s successful stint as India’s Test captain, including the historic series win in Australia. They highlighted that under his leadership, India won 40 out of 68 Test matches, making him the country’s most successful Test captain. Kohli’s win tally puts him fourth among the most successful Test captains globally, behind Graeme Smith (53 wins), Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Steve Waugh (41 wins).
Impact of Kohli’s Retirement
News.com.au reported that Kohli’s retirement announcement has left 1.4 billion hearts broken. Fox Sports noted that the absence of Kohli and Rohit Sharma will create a significant void in the Indian batting lineup.
Some of the key highlights of Kohli’s Test career include:
- Scoring a century in Adelaide during his debut series in Australia
- Leading India to a historic series win in Australia
- Becoming India’s most successful Test captain with 40 wins
Kohli’s legacy continues to be celebrated by cricket fans worldwide.