Virat Kohli

[meninblue]

In 2024 T20i Cup so far:

Matches : 6
Innings: 6
Runs: 66
SR: 100

Would have scored few more if he had batted at his normal batting position at 3. In India the ball does not swings and Bangalore is the flattest and highest scoring wicket, so he gets away scoring runs and manages not to lose his wicket. Plus the quality of opening bowlers is very high in internationals. A proper opener would have scored atleast 200 in 6 innings, many of the games being against minnows.

[meninblue]

Announced retirement yesterday from T20i format after winning the WC.

[sussexpob]

The last year has dropped his average below the 50 mark, but for the majority of his T20I career his consistency was something to behold.

It surprises me Indian batsman would quit T20Is while continuing in other formats. I guess an all format retirement will come soon?

Enjoy him while it lasts....

[Durhamfootman]

saved his best performance for the final. That's the way to do it, I suppose

[andy]

Apparently Virat is to be named RCB captain for next year's IPL....

[meninblue]

Virat was a run machine in test format from 2016 to 2019. Then a topsy turvy returns in run scored has happened for him, except for a one very good year (2023) in 5 years.

Since 2022 the averages of Virat in test format are as follows:
2020 - 19.33
2021 - 28.21
2022 - 26.50
2023 - 55.91
2024 - 21.25

With his 30th test 100 he scored today at Perth, he may now look to as return to some form in tests.

[sussexpob]

Virat Kohli calls an end to his test career - a career noticeably separated into the pre-Covid excellence, and a steep decline after. One can only assume with a lot of miles on his clock that the lockdown tour of OZ was a big part of his decline, such is the clear and marked turn around.

I guess the last few years will aid in defining his place in history, but I think that would be unfair. As arguably the greatest 3 pure three format player in history + a long stint as captain of India at a time expectation was high, I think I can safely say no cricketer has ever had the sort of pressure Kohli experienced in his career, and the sheer demands to perform to the highest standards across 3 international formats and the IPL. His international record is staggering when taken as a whole, but even more impressive given the context.

One can only wonder what he'd have ended with in an era with the same talent, but no T20/IPL/Captaincy burdening him. It was very predictable that something gave way as he came into his 30s. A long career, so many matches - it wore him down. It would wear anyone down.

All I know is, few players can ever match his peak between 2015-2019. He made runs in big matches, in tough conditions, consistently - and with visual class added in.

Enjoy your retirement Virat.

[Arthur Crabtree]

ATG batter obviously, across all the formats. But also remembered more ambivalently for his ultra-confrontational approach.

[Durhamfootman]

Is he retiring with immediate effect?

I read that he was going to announce his retirement a few days ago, but it sounded as though the BCCI were trying to convince him to play tests this summer with a view to helping Shubman Gill bed in as capt

[sussexpob]

Is he retiring with immediate effect?

I read that he was going to announce his retirement a few days ago, but it sounded as though the BCCI were trying to convince him to play tests this summer with a view to helping Shubman Gill bed in as capt

Confirmed this morning. Retired immediately, wont be touring UK

[meninblue]

Well done to him and his contribution to Indian cricket. I would put him as 6 best test batsman from India. An Indian legend in tests although his strongest format was ODI. Like I posted before in some threads, he should have retired couple of years back. Finally the board decided to make it clear to him that his time is over. Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar had outstanding fitness but if anyone was next in line, it has to be Virat Kohli. A very good ground fielder but not so good catcher.

What impressed me was the emergence of backing of out and out fast bowlers under his captaincy - Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Mohd. Siraj etc to be specific. But his failure was not developing test batsmen properly.

Would rate as follows:

Sachin Tendulkar
Sunil Gavaskar
Rahul Dravid
Virendra Sehwag
VVS Laxman
Virat Kohli