Nasser Hussain drops bomb, links Virat Kohli’s retirement to his fear of being 'normal cricketer'

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has shared his thoughts on Team India star batter Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket. The cricketer-turned-commentator also praised Kohli not just for his outstanding performances over 14 years but for his aura, swagger, and passion for the game.

Virat Kohli ended his 14-year Test career on Monday. His retirement came after fellow Indian star Rohit Sharma announced his exit from Test cricket. With both key players stepping down within a week, India will face a big challenge ahead as they prepare for the upcoming five-match Test series in England.

Virat Kohli Retires as One of India’s Greatest Test Cricketers

Virat Kohli retired as one of India’s greatest Test cricketers. He played 123 matches and scored 9,230 runs - the country’s fourth-highest run-scorer in the format - at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties. During his captaincy, India won 40 out of 68 Tests and held the No. 1 ranking for 42 months.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Kohli is part of an elite group of only 14 Indian players with over 100 Test appearances, alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar. Notably, he holds the record for the most double centuries by an Indian (7). The right-handed batter retired just 770 runs short of 10,000.

I Have Been a Massive Virat Kohli Fan - Nasser Hussain

Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Nasser Hussain credited Virat Kohli with transforming the team’s approach to the game. He added that Kohli set a high standard for anyone who follows in his footsteps.

"I have been a massive Virat Kohli fan over the last 14 years – his stats speak for themselves – but he was so much more than that. It was his aura, swagger, and passion. We know Indian cricket fans, and the game means so much to them. They want their captain to show them what it means to the team, and no one embodied that passion for cricket in India more than Kohli," Hussain said.

"He was an unbelievable player. He took India to No. 1 in the world, and they stayed there for about 42 months. He completely changed the way they play cricket. Whoever takes on that mantle has got something to live up to," he added.

That may have formed part of his retirement decision, he doesn't want to be a normal cricketer - Nasser Hussain

Nasser Hussain described Kohli as a fierce competitor who is obsessed with winning and giving his absolute best every time he steps on the field. Hussain said that Kohli wanted to end his Test career on his own terms, having transformed India into a dominant cricketing force.

“He is the ultimate winner, he sees the end goal as a win, and he is desperate for that. Everything for Kohli is about winning. Why do you think he's so good in run chases?"

"He can't go on the field and not be a hundred per cent, he can't ever go: 'I'll just do my best today.' That may have formed part of his retirement decision, he doesn't want to be a normal cricketer, just doing a little bit here and there. He made India into the force they are today.”

Also read: Australia retain top spot in ICC Women's ODI Rankings after annual update