Virat Kohli, the star batsman for India, retired from Test cricket relatively early, and the longest format would miss him, according to Chris Gayle, a former West Indies cricketer and icon of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
With just over a month to go before India's Test trip to England, the latter's Test retirement in May was unexpected. Kohli played 123 Test matches and amassed 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries.
Kohli also captained India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them and leading them in the first final of the World Test Championship in 2021. Under his captaincy, India achieved their first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018/19.
Speaking on a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, released on Sunday, September 7, Gayle was asked whether Kohli retired too early from Tests.
“Oh yeah, very early. Very early. You know, for whatever reason, I do not know, but Cricket will miss him 100%. Cricket will miss him. He is a massive, massive figure for the game of cricket,” Gayle said on the podcast.
Chris Gayle also spoke about RCB’s IPL 2025 win, ending the franchise's and Virat Kohli’s 18-year wait for the silverware.
“I am just happy a guy like Virat lifted the trophy (IPL) as well, because you know there was so much talk here and there. We had been to a couple of finals together, so I was really overwhelmed to actually be a part of that RCB team, to lift the trophy. And just as I am happy, I am sure AB was just as excited for RCB as well," Gayle said on the podcast.
“Those legends (Kohli and de Villiers), phenomenal players, are phenomenal people as well. You know, very cool and very down-to-earth as well. Good vibes, good energy. I had a great time playing with these guys in the dressing room. We had some great memories. We shared some great memories. So, you know, AB walked away from the game. Virat walked away from international cricket to an extent, still playing franchise cricket for RCB, which is good," Gayle added.
Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, the first two inductees of the RCB Hall of Fame, were present there to celebrate RCB’s IPL 2025 win with Virat Kohli.
