Virat KohliMay 12, 2025: As India comes to terms with the retirement of cricketing icon Virat Kohli from Test cricket, tributes have poured in from across the nation — including the world of cinema. Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap joined the chorus of admiration and emotion on Monday, sharing a heartfelt message and a rare photo of the legendary cricketer.
Taking to Instagram, the Gangs of Wasseypur director posted a throwback image of a young Kohli donning a National Cricket Academy jersey. The picture, likely from Kohli’s early domestic cricketing days, captures the raw determination of a future giant of the game.
“This young man who went on to rule the pitch and our hearts. Lots of love champ. You will be missed in Test cricket,” Kashyap wrote in the caption.
Anushka Sharma Pens a Personal Farewell
Earlier in the day, actor Anushka Sharma, Kohli’s wife, also posted an emotional tribute on Instagram. In a deeply personal note, she reflected on the private struggles and growth Kohli experienced behind his public triumphs.
“They’ll talk about the records and the milestones — but I’ll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. Watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege,” she wrote.
She also shared a poignant photo from India’s historic 2-1 Test series win in Australia in 2018, a tour that remains one of Kohli’s finest leadership chapters.
Virat Kohli’s Test Legacy
Kohli’s Test career stands as one of the most storied in Indian cricket history:
- Matches: 123
- Runs: 9,230
- Average: 46.85
- Centuries/Fifties: 30/31
- Highest Score: 254*
He is India’s fourth-highest run-scorer in Tests, behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
From a challenging debut tour in 2011 to a trailblazing career that included India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia (2018), Kohli’s legacy is marked by fearless leadership, unmatched passion, and a commitment to the purest form of the game.
Kohli’s departure from Test cricket marks the end of an era — not just for Indian cricket, but for an entire generation of fans who grew up watching him redefine the game with intensity, flair, and heart.