“Test cricket will miss Virat Kohli and his persona” - Former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun

Former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun has opened up on Indian talismanic batter Virat Kohli’s retirement from the longest format of the game. In a recent interview, Arun has recalled some of the memorable moments he had during his stay in the Indian camp with Kohli.

In the interview, Arun revealed how Kohli used to make the most out of challenging net sessions, preferring them ahead of the practice matches. Notably, Kohli announced his retirement from Tests via an Instagram post on Monday, May 12.

“Indian and world Test cricket will miss him and his persona. I have spent some of my best moments as India's bowling coach with Virat Kohli as captain. He never liked practice matches; he always felt the intensity was somehow missing and never really enjoyed practice games. Instead, he would want to spend more time at the nets and would always choose the spiciest wicket, getting bowlers to bowl at him from 16 yards or taking throwdowns from 16 yards. The fact is, he always needed a challenge. That's what got him going," Arun said as quoted by Business Standard.

Moreover, Bharat Arun also disclosed one of the impressive moments from Virat Kohli’s career as a Test captain at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2018-19 tour, in which India reclaimed the title. Arun stressed on how Kohli changed the whole dynamics of the team moving into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

“Virat had just scored a fantastic hundred at Perth, but we did not win that match. Going into Melbourne, it was Virat who literally changed the dressing room mindset. He made everyone believe that we could do it and went about his business as a leader in a manner unrivalled. He respected the format more than anything else and will be missed," he concluded.

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