"The thing that drew Australians to Virat Kohli was"- Brad Haddin spills unheard secrets

Former Australian wicketkeeper batter Brad Haddin shared his thoughts on ace Indian batter Virat Kohli's Test retirement ahead of the five-match series against England. Haddin stated that the former Indian skipper will be sorely missed on the Test stage, describing him as a once-in-a-generation player.

Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, May 12. He is India’s most successful Test captain, having led the team to 40 wins in 68 matches. The 36-year-old batter amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests, including 30 centuries, and is fourth among the top Indian batters in the format.

Virat Kohli Was a Once-in-a-Generation Player - Brad Haddin

Brad Haddin praised Virat Kohli's influence on Test cricket. Haddin acknowledged that Kohli's fierce competitiveness and physical presence redefined the way the game was played. He called Kohli a once-in-a-generation player whose absence will leave a significant void in the Test arena.

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"It was just his willingness to compete. Kohli was a once-in-a-generation player and he changed the way the game was played with how he presented himself physically. The thing that drew Australians to Kohli was his sheer passion for the big moments," Haddin told TOI.

"He enjoyed coming up against teams like Australia, South Africa, and England when they were at their peak and it brought the best out of him," he added.

"He’s going to be sorely missed in Test cricket. I think that was his greatest format, where he had the biggest impact."

Virat Kohli Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025

The IPL 2025 resumed on May 17 with the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, rain forced the match to be abandoned without a single ball being bowled.

Notably, the day was special for Virat Kohli’s fans, who turned out in large numbers wearing his No. 18 Test jerseys to honor the star player. Kohli is RCB’s top scorer this season, having scored 505 runs in 11 innings with an impressive average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46.

RCB have already secured a playoff spot and currently sits second on the points table with 17 points from 12 matches. They will play their next game against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Lucknow on Friday, May 23.

Players Have Enormous Respect for Shreyas Iyer - Brad Haddin

In the same conversation, Brad Haddin lauded Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer for his leadership. Haddin added that Iyer gives clear messages to the players. He also spoke about the collaboration between Iyer and head coach Ricky Ponting.

"One thing that impressed me is his care for his playing group. He’s got a really clear message in what he delivers to the players and he lives those habits all the time. The players got an enormous amount of respect for him," Haddin said.

"They’ve had a great relationship since their time in Delhi. They work well together."

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