New Delhi, May 12
The former United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has expressed disappointment that fans would not be able to see Virat Kohli in action on the Test tour of England as the former India captain has announced his retirement.
Congratulating Kohli on his illustrious career in red-ball cricket, Sunak wrote that the 36-year-old batter has been a legend of the game and will be missed by fans on India's upcoming tour of England.
"Sad we won't get to see @imVkohli one last time this summer. He has been a legend of the game: a superb batsman, an astute captain, and a formidable competitor who always understood the true value of Test cricket," wrote Sunak, the first Prime Minister of Indian origin for the country who invented cricket, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Sunak is a cricket enthusiast and has enjoyed his interactions with cricketers during his time as British Prime Minister. In March 2023, he hosted the T20 World Cup-winning England men's team at 10 Downing Street and also played an impromptu garden cricket game with them.
During his tenure as British Prime Minister from October 25, 2022, to July 5, 2024, Sunak announced an investment of 35 million Pounds in grassroots cricket facilities and widening access to the sport within state schools as part of the British government's move to get one million more young people physically active by 2030.
Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, pulling the curtains on a 14-year-long tenure during which he played 123 Tests, scoring 9230 runs at a batting average of 46.85 and posting 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He had a top score of 254 not out. Kohli had led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 of them, which makes him the most successful captain of the Indian team.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartwarming to see Rishi Sunak's appreciation for Virat Kohli! 🇮🇳ðŸ Shows how cricket connects people across borders. Kohli's retirement is truly the end of an era - his passion and aggression on field were unmatched. Hope he enjoys his well-deserved break!
Interesting how Sunak mentions Kohli understood the "true value of Test cricket" - coming from a British PM, this is high praise indeed! Though I wish our own politicians would show similar enthusiasm for sports infrastructure in India.
King Kohli will be missed in whites! 😢 His stats speak for themselves - most successful Indian captain and among the top run scorers. Sunak's tweet shows how much respect Kohli commands globally. Now waiting for his autobiography - that will be a bestseller for sure!
As an Indian living in London, I'm proud to see our diaspora reaching top positions abroad while still staying connected to Indian culture. Sunak's love for cricket and appreciation for Kohli makes me smile. Maybe he can convince ECB to organize a farewell match for Kohli at Lord's?
While I appreciate Sunak's sentiments, I think we're focusing too much on foreign validation. Kohli's legacy is secure in the hearts of Indian fans. His transformation of Indian cricket - making us fearless overseas - is his real achievement. Jai Hind!
Sunak investing £35 million in grassroots cricket while our own stadiums lack basic facilities... food for thought! But coming back to Kohli - what a champion! His intensity brought so many new fans to Test cricket. Hope the youngsters learn from his work ethic.
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