None of the pundits or the fans could have foreseen how test captaincy would turn out to be greatest legacy. I for one was hugely disappointed when he gave up his captaincy. It just felt like the end of an era. And surely, it wasn't the same Kohli after that, and it wasn't the same team after that.
Stellar essay, Sarthak! I had been waiting all week to read this and it was totally worth the wait! :))
Thank you so much, Karthik! And yeah, the captaincy snatch took its toll on both Kohli and India. Think Rohit's done okay, but he took over a side that was always going to decline soon.
Tremendous writing. Couldn't get my eyes off the screen as I read this, much like I couldn't get my eyes off the screen when Kohli led the side in whites
Thanks for letting me revisit those old Kohli knocks in this brilliant essay Sarthak. I saw Virat Kohli bat live three times in my life at the Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai. I saw him at the 2011 ODI World Cup Final, the 2016 T20 World Cup Semi Final and the 2024 Ind vs New Zealand Test match. These were three very different formats and very different phases of his life (the exuberant start, the dominant middle, the fading end). Those vivid memories came to life through your essay. I think what I remember clearly about each of these knocks was the passion and love for the game that shone in his eyes and body language. Those are hard things to fake consistently for a long period of time. He never took a game lightly and turned up focused and fit every single time even when form was against him for long periods of time. I'm going to miss him in the whites. I still think he has a trophy or two in him. What do you think?
Thanks for reading, Abhishek! Quite true that his body language was incredible every time he played.
I don't know if trophies can be attributed to one player or their individual ability. Lara/SRT careers shining examples that a lot needs to go right sometimes, even with all the talent in the world.
Great point Sarthak. Agree completely. Same for players like Kallis, Fleming, Taylor, Williamson, De Villiers, Steyn, Amla, Gibbs and more. Not in the same vein as Lara and SRT but important careers nonetheless. I also loved how you spoke about knocks by Kohli that don’t normally appear on stats boards. Those are as important as the big 100’s right, but often not talked about as much.
Terrific essay and top notch writing, man.
Thank you, Lakshit!
Top Notch work Sarthak! A good title as well...Keep it up!
Thank you, Sanyam!
None of the pundits or the fans could have foreseen how test captaincy would turn out to be greatest legacy. I for one was hugely disappointed when he gave up his captaincy. It just felt like the end of an era. And surely, it wasn't the same Kohli after that, and it wasn't the same team after that.
Stellar essay, Sarthak! I had been waiting all week to read this and it was totally worth the wait! :))
Thank you so much, Karthik! And yeah, the captaincy snatch took its toll on both Kohli and India. Think Rohit's done okay, but he took over a side that was always going to decline soon.
Lovely.
Thank you, Hitesh! :)
Man, what an epic sweeping essay with so many memorable lines. Just wonderful!
Too kind, Vikram! :) Thank you so much.
Once again, you had me glued to the page and feeling emotional even though I don't watch cricket. Magnificent, don't know how you do it!
Thank you so much, Amrita! So glad you enjoyed this :)
Great stuff, fully enjoyed it! Thanks Sarthak.
Thank you, Mohan!
Oof! Amazing writing, Sarthak.
Thank you, Avinash!
Tremendous writing. Couldn't get my eyes off the screen as I read this, much like I couldn't get my eyes off the screen when Kohli led the side in whites
Thank you so much, Rohan! :)
Terrific writing, Sarthak!
Thank you, Rohan!
Well written, Sarthak. An emotional end to a great era of red ball cricket.
Thank you, Rahul.
Thanks for letting me revisit those old Kohli knocks in this brilliant essay Sarthak. I saw Virat Kohli bat live three times in my life at the Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai. I saw him at the 2011 ODI World Cup Final, the 2016 T20 World Cup Semi Final and the 2024 Ind vs New Zealand Test match. These were three very different formats and very different phases of his life (the exuberant start, the dominant middle, the fading end). Those vivid memories came to life through your essay. I think what I remember clearly about each of these knocks was the passion and love for the game that shone in his eyes and body language. Those are hard things to fake consistently for a long period of time. He never took a game lightly and turned up focused and fit every single time even when form was against him for long periods of time. I'm going to miss him in the whites. I still think he has a trophy or two in him. What do you think?
Thanks for reading, Abhishek! Quite true that his body language was incredible every time he played.
I don't know if trophies can be attributed to one player or their individual ability. Lara/SRT careers shining examples that a lot needs to go right sometimes, even with all the talent in the world.
Great point Sarthak. Agree completely. Same for players like Kallis, Fleming, Taylor, Williamson, De Villiers, Steyn, Amla, Gibbs and more. Not in the same vein as Lara and SRT but important careers nonetheless. I also loved how you spoke about knocks by Kohli that don’t normally appear on stats boards. Those are as important as the big 100’s right, but often not talked about as much.