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In a shocking development from world of cricket, Virat Kohli has stepped down as the captain of India's Test side on Saturday. The decision comes after his side's 2-1 series defeat at the hands of South Africa. The 33-year-old made the announcement on social media with a message for his fans.
He stated, "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. Every thing has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test Captain of India, it's now. There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it's not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team."
"I want to thank the BCCI for giving me the opportunity to lead my country for such a long period of time and more importantly to all the teammates who bought into the vision I had for the team from day one and never gave up in any situation. You guys have made this journey so memorable and beautiful. To Ravi Bhai and the support group who were the engine behind this vehicle that moved us upwards in Test Cricket consistently, you all have played a massive role in bringing this vision to life. Lastly, a big thank you to MS Dhoni who believed in me as a Captain and found me to be an able individual who could take Indian Cricket forward," Kohli added.
With 40 wins in 68 Tests, Kohli ended his tenure as India's most successful captain in red-ball cricket. Having already resigned from T20I captaincy followed by his removal as ODI captain, Kohli's move on Saturday official ends his era as captain of the national side.
Virat Kohli as captain in international cricket:
Matches - 213
Won - 135
Runs - 12,883
Average - 59.92
Hundreds - 41
Although his successor has not been announced, it is reported that KL Rahul is likely to take over Test captaincy reigns from Kohli. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are the other two candidates who could also be in the race.