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OTD In 2022: 'King' Virat Kohli Rests His Test Captaincy Crown After 7 Years Of Reign

Soumyajit Dutta

Virat Kohli stepped down as India's Test captain back in 2022 [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Virat Kohli stepped down as India's Test captain back in 2022 [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

On January 15, 2022, Virat Kohli made the momentous decision to step down as the captain of India's Test cricket team, bringing an end to a seven-year reign that saw him revolutionize Indian cricket. Kohli's decision came just a day after India’s defeat in Cape Town, where they lost the Test series to South Africa 2-1, marking a bitter end to his tenure as captain in the longest format of the game. 

Kohli's announcement came as a shock to many, especially after his tumultuous year, which had already seen him relinquish his role as the captain of India’s T20I and ODI teams. Virat Kohli's journey as Test captain began in early 2015 when MS Dhoni announced his retirement in Australia, leaving behind a void that Kohli filled with great responsibility.

Virat Kohli's Reign As India's Test Captain

In the years that followed, Kohli's leadership became synonymous with aggression, fitness, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Under his captaincy, India rose to the top of the ICC Test rankings and achieved unprecedented success on foreign soil, including historic series wins in Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Australia. 

The 2018-19 victory in Australia, in particular, was a landmark achievement, as India became the first Asian nation to win a Test series Down Under. Virat Kohli's leadership also guided India to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021, a testament to his ability to consistently push the team to new heights. 

Kohli led India to 48 Test wins out of the 60 Test the Men in Blue played under him. His contributions marked him as one of the finest Indian Test captains and also made him stand out in an elite list of Test captains headlining names like Graeme Smith and Ricky Ponting.

Kohli’s approach to leadership was unique, often opting for a five-bowler strategy and emphasizing the importance of physical fitness. His tenure was marked by the rise of some of India's finest cricketers, with the likes of Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj flourishing under his captaincy.

Virat Kohli's Antics, Controversies, And Decision To Step Down 

However, despite the success, Kohli’s leadership was also marred by controversies. His public fallout with coach Anil Kumble in 2017, a tense exchange with Steve Smith over DRS protocols, and his high-profile disagreements with the BCCI in 2021, particularly regarding his removal as the ODI captain, added fuel to the fire. Yet, Kohli remained steadfast in his commitment to the team and his vision for the future.

Kohli’s decision to step down came after a series of personal and professional challenges. He didn't score a single century in international cricket since November 2019, and his form was a topic of intense scrutiny. The BCCI’s communication regarding the leadership changes, and Kohli’s own struggles with balancing his leadership duties and batting form, likely contributed to his decision. 

Kohli Shocks The Cricketing World With The Twitter Bomb

As he dropped the retirement bomb on Twitter, in his farewell message, Kohli expressed his gratitude to the BCCI, his teammates, and former captain MS Dhoni, acknowledging that his journey as captain had been one of hard work, perseverance, and belief in the team’s potential.

"It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction. I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it's now."

Kohli ended his tenure with the most Test wins by any Indian captain and also had one of the highest win percentages in the history of the format. His legacy as India’s most successful Test captain is secure and his contributions to Indian cricket will be remembered for generations to come. 

Kohli Delights Fans During BGT 2024-25

Back to the present, as the cricketing world misses the aura and intensity that Virat Kohli brought to India’s Test team as the captain, fans were not robbed of their favourite star's antics as he again donned the captain's hat in the Sydney Cricket Ground as the stand-in-skipper in place of Jasprit Bumrah. While India lost the match, Kohli fans were surely delighted to see their 'King' back in his usual aggressive form leading the team from the front.