Steve Smith's special message for Virat Kohli sends internet into frenzy

On Monday, Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket, drawing the curtain on an illustrious 14-year career in the game’s longest format. The 35-year-old, widely regarded as one of the finest batters of the modern era, concludes his Test journey with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85 ranking as India’s fourth-highest run-scorer behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. Kohli’s retirement has prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the cricketing fraternity, with Australia’s Steve Smith a fellow member of the so-called "Fab Four" acknowledging Kohli’s impact on the format via an Instagram story. Smith’s message, though succinct, reflected the deep mutual respect shared among the elite group of contemporary batters who have defined an era of Test cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) commemorated Kohli’s contribution with a statement on X, calling it the end of a “golden chapter in Test cricket” and emphasising that his legacy “will inspire generations.” Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) lauded his stature, stating: “Whites off, crown intact. Virat Kohli departs from Test cricket, leaving behind a legacy like no other.”Quiz: Who's that IPL player? In his official statement posted on Instagram, Kohli reflected on the transformative nature of Test cricket in his life. “It’s been 14 years since I first donned the baggy blue… It tested me, shaped who I am, and taught life-long lessons,” he wrote. “I’ve given my all, and the format has given me more than I could ask for… #269, signing off.” Kohli’s Test career, which began in 2011 against the West Indies, was marked by a steep learning curve followed by a sustained period of dominance. After a modest start, his breakthrough came in the 2011-12 tour of Australia, where his century in Adelaide laid the groundwork for future success overseas. Between 2016 and 2019, he produced his most prolific spell, scoring over 4,200 runs at an average nearing 67 a phase that included 16 centuries and seven double hundreds, the most by any Test captain. Despite a statistical downturn during the 2020s, Kohli demonstrated a resurgence in 2023, highlighted by an average of 55.91 across eight matches. His final Test series came during the 2023-24 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he tallied 190 runs across nine innings, including a century at Perth. Kohli exits the format having not only compiled elite numbers but also reshaped India's Test ethos. Under his leadership, India achieved landmark victories overseas, secured the ICC World Test Championship mace, and consistently competed at the highest level in all conditions. Steve Smith’s tribute is emblematic of the high regard in which Kohli is held among his contemporaries, a testament to his enduring influence on global cricket.