Nasser Hussain pays rich tribute to Virat Kohli after India legend’s Test retirement

Former England captain Nasser Hussain showered praise on Virat Kohli after the Indian veteran batter announced his Test retirement on Monday. Hussain said Kohli completely changed the way India played cricket.

Kohli played an instrumental role in infusing an aggressive approach into the team and took the fitness level to a whole new level. The former Indian captain also played a crucial role in strengthening India’s pace battery, which helped the team in savoring success on the foreign tours.

Kohli amassed 9230 runs in 123 Test matches at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. 

Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports, “They want their captain to show them what it means to the team, and no one embodied that passion for cricket in India more than Kohli. He was an unbelievable player. For the legends of the game, they can’t get away from media scrutiny. They are in that goldfish bowl all the time. He took India to No 1 in the world, and they stayed there for about 42 months. He completely changed the way they play cricket. Whoever takes on that mantle has got something to live up to.”

Hussain highlighted that winning at all cost meant everything for Kohli as he gave his heart and soul to the team.

Hussain concluded, “He is the ultimate winner, he sees the end goal as a win, and he is desperate for that. Everything for Kohli is about winning. Why do you think he’s so good in run chases? He can’t go on the field and not be a hundred per cent, he can’t ever go: ‘I’ll just do my best today.’ That may have formed part of his retirement decision, he doesn’t want to be a normal cricketer, just doing a little bit here and there. He made India into the force they are today.”

Kohli led India in 68 Test matches, winning 40, drawing 11 and losing 17, and thus he is regarded as one of India’s most successful Test captains.