Kohli gives up Test captaincy
Virat Kohli has stepped down as captain of the Indian Test side following their 2-1 series defeat by South Africa, the player said in a statement on Saturday.
Kohli, who took over the reins in 2014, led India in 68 tests, winning 40 matches and losing 17. He first led the side in Test cricket in 2014, against Australia, and has primarily held the role since then. His last game as captain was the Cape Town Test in South Africa, which India lost by seven wickets.
Kohli’s stint as Test captain was a largely successful one, as he oversaw the team’s rise to No.1 in the ICC rankings, following several memorable overseas victories. In 2021, he led India to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship, in Southampton
Taking to Twitter, Kohli said after “7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction”, the time had come for him to step aside.