Virat Kohli departs as India’s Test captain but his legacy will live on

Virat Kohli has left the building. India’s most vocal captain, on and off the field, signed off from his Test leadership position via social media. A day earlier Kohli had addressed the media after India’s loss to South Africa in the Cape Town Test that gave the home team the series 2-1 but did not hint at stepping down. There was no intimation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, not so much as a tweet or a media release. When he thought the time was right, Kohli called it.

In his time as Test captain Kohli led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 and losing only 17. Statistically he is India’s most successful captain. Globally, too, he stands tall. Only South Africa’s Graeme Smith (53 wins) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (48) and Steve Waugh (41) have a better record as skipper.

Kohli has built a legacy that will probably live on long after him. This is of an Indian team that can and will win overseas, in any and all conditions. When he took over as captain, Kohli’s vision was of a side that could win in Australia and England. He achieved both by building a fast-bowling infrastructure that was previously absent in Indian cricket.

Kohli did not settle for one or two fast bowlers. He demanded he had a half-dozen at his disposal to choose from at any point, with any and all being able to win him matches. This school of thought needed the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru to work with the India A set up, advised by the Indian team’s coaching staff, to work together.

That this happened was a miracle of sorts but it was non-negotiable to Kohli. Once he had the resources, he deployed them. Even when it was not the most prudent move, at times when it might have cost India, Kohli played five specialist bowlers.

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