Last Updated on 4 years ago by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: “Thank you India’s best Test captain” – Fans react to Virat Kohli stepping down as India captain | Virat Kohli steps down as captain

Virat Kohli has stepped down as India’s Test captain following his side’s 2-1 series defeat in South Africa. Kohli, who led India admirably over the past seven years, took to social media to announce the news.

“It’s been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perserverance everyday to take the team in the right direction,” Kohli’s statement began.

“Every thing has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it’s now.”

Virat Kohli finishes as India’s most successful Test skipper

Virat Kohli captained India on 68 occasions in Test cricket, which is the most for India and sixth-most in Test history behind Graeme Smith (109), Allan Border (93), Stephen Fleming (80), Ricky Ponting (77) and Clive Lloyd (74).

He won 40 of his 68 matches as skipper, losing just 17 in the process. His win-percentage of 58.82 is only behind Ponting (62.33%) and Steve Waugh (71.92) among captains with at least 30 Test victories.

India made a marked improvement overseas under his leadership, winning series in Australia and getting the better of England in 2021. A key reason for this is Kohli, who played a key role in India’s pace bowling revolution. From an attack that barely threw a punch overseas, India’s pace bowling bunch is now one of the best in the world, and he leaves his post as India skipper with the squad in a good place, despite the frustrating 2-1 defeat in South Africa embarked in some Cape Town stump mic controversy.

Twitter reactions to the news Kohli steps down as India Test captain

Wasim Jaffer put it perfectly.

“When Virat took over as Test captain, India winning a Test overseas was an achievement. Now if India lose an overseas Test series, it is an upset. And that’s how far he has taken Indian cricket forward, and that will be his legacy. Congratulations on successful reign, Virat Kohli”, he tweeted.

There was plenty of respect and admiration for the man whom many believe is India’s greatest ever Test captain.