India finished as no.1 team in ICC Test rankings for five years in a row under Virat Kohli.
Senior Indian pacer Ishant Sharma penned down a heartfelt message for Virat Kohli after he stepped down as Indian Test captain.
Virat Kohli surprised the entire cricket fraternity on Saturday (15th January) when he in a social media post revealed his decision to step down as the Indian Test skipper.
His decision came a day after India’s Test series loss to South Africa in Cape Town, thus ending his 7-year stint as the Indian Test skipper. The right-hander took the team to new heights under his leadership and made them No.1 in ICC Test rankings.
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Kohli ends his tenure as the most successful Indian skipper with 40 wins to his name from 68 matches at a win percentage of 58.92%. Under his captaincy, Team India defeated Australia in their home for the first time ever and produced a dominating show in England last year, leading the series by 2-1.
The right-hander also helped his side reach the final of the World Test Championship 2021 and under him, India never lost a Test series at home. He was applauded by many fans and pundits for the legacy he left behind, as he helped Team India finish at the top of Test rankings for five years in a row.
Taking to his official Instagram account, Indian pacer Ishant Sharma thanked Virat Kohli for all the memories he shared with him on and off the field. He remarked that as children they never thought that the right-hander will captain India and he will play 100 Test matches.
“Thank you for all the memories I’ve shared with you in the dressing room and on and off the field since childhood, where we never thought that you would be our captain and I’ll play 100 test matches for India. All we did was just play cricket with all our heart and things worked out well," Ishant Sharma wrote.
Sharma lauded Kohli, saying that from ranked No.7 and hardly winning any series in SENA countries to being No.1 in the world, the right-hander did a tremendous job as the Indian Test skipper.
He recalled a conversation with him during the South Africa tour 2017-18, where he told him that it’s high time for India to win Tests in overseas conditions.
“From No. 7 and hardly winning any series in sena countries to our current standing as the Indian team you have done a tremendous job as a Captain. I still remember back in 2017 in South Africa, where u told me its high time to win a series in these countries.
“Yes, we didn’t win 2017-18 series in Africa, but we went to Australia and beat Australia in Australia. In England, 2017-18 series says we lost 4-1, but we know as team how close we came!!” he said.
Ishant Sharma concluded by congratulating him for his successful stint as the Indian Test skipper.
“So cheers to your most successful Test Captaincy for Indian and thanks for the amazing memories as a Captain you have given us @virat.kohli," he concluded.
Here’s the post: