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Team India’s former opener Shikhar Dhawan has divulged how Virat Kohli cheered him up when the left-handed batter smashed his maiden ton in his debut Test match against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2012-13. Back in March 2013, when Dhawan got the opportunity to play his debut Test, he played a brilliant knock of 187 and played a vital role in India’s convincing six-wicket win. His knock also got him the Player of the Match (POTM) award. On the occasion of Kohli’s Test retirement, Dhawan recollected the memory when the southpaw struck his first ton and the young version of Kohli celebrated every bit of the historic moment.
“I scored 187 in that match. When I reached my century, Virat came out of the dressing room to cheer for me. He really enjoyed that century. When I went back to the dressing room, he played loud Punjabi songs, and we continued to celebrate," said Shikhar while speaking to The Times Of India.
Virat Kohli’s Test retirement befuddles Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan was dazed at Virat Kohli’s Test retirement as the former feels that the latter has maintained a stellar level of fitness. However, the left-handed batter also said that Kohli must have taken the massive decision after pondering a lot as the 36-year-old considered Test cricket above other forms of the sport.
"I absolutely believe he could have continued playing red-ball cricket because he is physically very fit. But he started quite early, and mentally, only he knows whether he wanted to keep playing or not,” remarked Shikhar.
He also added, “Sometimes a player can be physically fit but not feel it mentally. Virat is the only person who can answer that, and I’m sure he must have taken this decision after a lot of thought. He always treated Test cricket above any other format. So, he must have given it a lot of consideration before making this big decision.”
