‘Virat Kohli Was Someone You Never Wanted To Play Against’: Mo Bobat

Since Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, no one has created more buzz about Test cricket than Virat Kohli, who has amassed nearly 10,000 runs and led India with such passion. But out of nowhere, the 36-year-old announced his retirement from the longest format, ahead of the five-match Test series against England. 

For the first time since his retirement, Kohli will now take the field when RCB take on KKR at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17 (Saturday), where there will be a turnout from the fans to see their beloved ‘King Kohli’. RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, ahead of the KKR clash, gave his tributes to the former Indian skipper. 

Also Read: Test Cricket Owes Virat Kohli A Huge Debt Of Gratitude

“First thing to say is, Virat Kohli’s just business as usual. There’s enough of the public and nation’s attention on him, he doesn’t want any more of that. He just wants to get on with business, he is usually ambitious about what we can achieve with RCB. That’s his focus,” Bobat said. 

“I would like to say though that he should be incredibly proud of what he's done as a Test player for India. RCB as a franchise, we are all incredibly proud of what every one of our players does in an India shirt, but in particular him. To play 120 plus test matches and to score nearly 10,000 runs is no mean feat.”

Bobat previously worked for the England national team as their men's Performance Director, where the team had a lot of run-ins with Kohli. The best came in 2018, when Kohli turned up trump against his arch-nemesis, James Anderson, amassing 593 runs in ten innings. 

“Also, as a captain, his record, 60% win percentage or something like that as captain, again, no mean feat. I can also talk from my previous role as an Englishman working in the English system. He was someone you never wanted to play against.

“He was always the batter you wanted to get out. You knew that if he was either in the pavilion to come or at the crease, you were in trouble. Some of my fondest memories of watching Test cricket involve him.”

“I'll never forget the 2018 India series in England. The Test at Edgbaston, watching James Anderson and him do battle like two gladiators. I think James Anderson must have bowled nine overs on the trot at him. It was two of the best players in the world doing their thing. That's what he's about. He's about those special moments, those inspiring moments.”

However, Bobat believes that the decision to retire won’t affect Kohli, adding that he remains calm and wants to complete the business - win RCB their maiden IPL trophy. 

“He did that as captain, as a player. We're all really proud of him. I'm sure the fans will show him lots of love this week when they see him again. But just to go back to where I started, he's business as usual. We all are. He's spoken to a few of us about things in the last few weeks, but you know what he's like. He's pretty clear-minded, so he's clear on what he wants to do,” he concluded.