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24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, in a heartwarming gesture, paid tribute to Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli following his retirement from Test cricket.
Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket came as a surprise to fans around the world.
The 36-year-old had already stepped away from T20Is after leading India to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 title in the USA and the West Indies.
And now, with the red-ball chapter of his career also coming to a close, it truly marks the end of an era.
In an emotional farewell note posted on Instagram, Virat Kohli looked back on his 14-year-long Test journey with a sense of gratitude and fulfilment.
“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life.”
“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites… the quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever,” Kohli added.
He admitted the decision to walk away wasn’t easy, but it felt like the right time.
“I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude… I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”
Virat Kohli bows out with 123 Test matches under his belt, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and 40 Test wins as captain — the most by any Indian skipper in the format.
Novak Djokovic, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, took to social media on Monday to congratulate Kohli on what he described as an “incredible innings,” sharing a photo of the Indian batting maestro along with the message: “Incredible innings, Virat Kohli.”
The Serbian tennis star’s gesture reflects the immense respect Kohli commands not just within the cricketing fraternity but across the global sporting landscape.
