"It hasn't been the same, it never will be" - Fans remember Virat Kohli's decision to step down as Test captain on this day last year

It was on this day in 2022 that Virat Kohli stepped down as India's Test skipper with immediate effect, a day after losing the Test series to South Africa 2-1.

Since taking over the baton from MS Dhoni in 2015, Kohli relinquished his duties as India's most successful skipper last year. He has the fourth-most wins as captain in Test cricket, with 40 wins from 68 games. He lost on 17 occasions while 11 ended in a draw.

Of his 40 wins, 16 came overseas, including series wins in Sri Lanka, Australia, and West Indies. Under his leadership, India were 2-1 ahead in the five-match Test series against England in 2021, before the final fixture was called off due to a COVID-19 scare.

Kohli is touted as the brand ambassador for Test cricket and played an impeccable role in reviving the craze.

He oversaw India's rise to the No. 1 position in the ICC Test Rankings and led the team to the final of the inaugural edition of the ICC World Test Championship in Southampton.

Fans on social media were seemingly disappointed and slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its politics for Virat Kohli's decision. Many also reckoned that from this day India's downfall in Test cricket started.

Here are some of the reactions:

Pratham.

@74thCenturyWhxn

Thanks for all the memories as Test Captain.
Bold, Arrogant and Aggressive @imVkohli
https://t.co/YQbS4dlkhO twitter.com/imVkohli/statu…

Virat Kohli

@imVkohli

511

66

🇮🇳 https://t.co/huBL6zZ7fZ

Thanks for all the memories as Test Captain.
Bold, Arrogant and Aggressive @imVkohli ❤️
https://t.co/YQbS4dlkhO twitter.com/imVkohli/statu…

Vishal Yadav

@VishalY44691113

#OnThisDay last year, the greatest Test Captain of all time left the captaincy due to politics in BCCI.

Test Cricket haven't been the same since.

Virat Kohli leading an Indian side in whites was a sight to watch.

#ViratKohli𓃵
#KingKohli

#OnThisDay last year, the greatest Test Captain of all time left the captaincy due to politics in BCCI.

Test Cricket haven't been the same since. 💔

Virat Kohli leading an Indian side in whites was a sight to watch. ❤️

#ViratKohli𓃵
#KingKohli https://t.co/r3Snr2DegA

Saurabh Jayaswal

@criccrazy100rbh

On this day (15 Jan 2022)...
One of The Greatest Test Captains of the Game Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as India's Test captain...
@imVkohli #ViratKohli𓃵
@CricCrazyJohns @mufaddal_vohra twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

21

4

On this day (15 Jan 2022)...
One of The Greatest Test Captains of the Game Virat Kohli announced that he will step down as India's Test captain...
@imVkohli #ViratKohli𓃵
@CricCrazyJohns @mufaddal_vohra twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/qpB6480Ei1

.

@Dhanushvk_

Take it back ffs @imVkohli 🙃‍♂️
https://t.co/8chXgjYt6o twitter.com/imVkohli/statu…

Virat Kohli

@imVkohli

138

15

🇮🇳 https://t.co/huBL6zZ7fZ

Take it back ffs @imVkohli 🙃🚶‍♂️
https://t.co/8chXgjYt6o twitter.com/imVkohli/statu…

Kaushik

@CricKaushik_

It's been one year Captain Kohli. It hasn't been the same. It never will be.

48

6

It's been one year Captain Kohli. It hasn't been the same. It never will be. https://t.co/SaWRpvZatV

Akshat

@AkshatOM10

Exactly one year ago, on this day, Virat Kohli lost to bcci system nd politics as he stepped down as Indian test captain.

251

14

Exactly one year ago, on this day, Virat Kohli lost to bcci system nd politics as he stepped down as Indian test captain. 💔 https://t.co/zVlTAa2GLR

Faiz Fazel

@theFaizFazel

@imVkohli Proud Of The Way You Always Led The Team From The Front Champ, Thank You For The Memories In Whites! 🤍

@imVkohli Proud Of The Way You Always Led The Team From The Front Champ, Thank You For The Memories In Whites! 🤍

Waadaplaya!!! 🏏

@waadaplaya

@imVkohli Go well champ. You left your mark!

@imVkohli Go well champ. You left your mark!

Faiz Fazel

@theFaizFazel

@imVkohli Thank you for always promoting Test cricket and helping India reach the pinnacle of it. Thank you India's best Test captain.

@imVkohli Thank you for always promoting Test cricket and helping India reach the pinnacle of it. Thank you India's best Test captain. 💔

𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢

@SaurabhTripathS

@imVkohli Why did you do that skip @imVkohli

14

3

@imVkohli Why did you do that skip @imVkohli 😔 https://t.co/YxfyAOhHCT

Kunal Agrawal

@KunalAg55523321

@imVkohli And the peak of Test cricket ends here.

1

@imVkohli And the peak of Test cricket ends here.

ᴹᵃⁿᵘˢʰ 33

@MARNUS_GOAT

@imVkohli This is literally the most shocking decision

1

@imVkohli This is literally the most shocking decision 💔💔

ÄĐ𝕀ƬɎÅ

@Adityam72049066

@imVkohli I Still can't get over this

1

1

@imVkohli I Still can't get over this💔💔💔
https://t.co/rHN2YzMrkb

Faiz Fazel

@theFaizFazel

@imVkohli Proud Of The Way You Always Led The Team From The Front Champ, Thank You For The Memories In Whites! 🤍

@imVkohli Proud Of The Way You Always Led The Team From The Front Champ, Thank You For The Memories In Whites! 🤍

jay parikh

@jayparikh21

@imVkohli 1 year to this and it still hurts. Even today we see you as a captain in test match. Arguably the best captain India ever had in test

Keep the energy level high ...WTC waiting for you

@imVkohli 1 year to this and it still hurts. Even today we see you as a captain in test match. Arguably the best captain India ever had in test🇮🇳❤️

Keep the energy level high ...WTC waiting for you 🏆

Sourabh Suthar

@sourabhsuthar9

@imVkohli We’re gonna miss the “Captain Kohli”, no one can fill that void Captain. You’d always be the captain for me!
#ThankYouKingKohli

@imVkohli We’re gonna miss the “Captain Kohli”, no one can fill that void Captain. You’d always be the captain for me!
#ThankYouKingKohli

Shreyyy18🗿

@_kohliverse25

@imVkohli One year of musical chair 🤡

@imVkohli One year of musical chair 🗿😭🤡

Adheera

@Adheera__

@imVkohli Greatest Test Captain Of All Time

2

@imVkohli Greatest Test Captain Of All Time 🐐
💔

हर्षित 🇱🇸

@Italymeraghar

@imVkohli On this day Indian cricket team's downfall started

3

@imVkohli On this day Indian cricket team's downfall started

Hardikians

@fanclub78497829

@imVkohli The black day in history if cricket and our downfall started after this only

4

@imVkohli The black day in history if cricket and our downfall started after this only 😑😑😑😑

𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐚

@har_sha18

@imVkohli Arguably,
The GreaTEST Captain ever in the history of Cricket. 🛐

@imVkohli Arguably,
The GreaTEST Captain ever in the history of Cricket. 👑🛐

Harshal Patil

@Harshal85917242

@imVkohli Captain Virat Kohli Forever 🥺🤌

@imVkohli Captain Virat Kohli Forever 🥺🔥🤌

Shreyansh

@Shreyansh_2203

@imVkohli 1 year later. Your whole system is in shambles. Put respect on his name. One of the greatest ever to do it- Virat Kohli.

1

@imVkohli 1 year later. Your whole system is in shambles. Put respect on his name. One of the greatest ever to do it- Virat Kohli.

Abhay Jain 🇮🇳

@Abhay8042

@imVkohli one year to this

1

@imVkohli 💔one year to this 💔😔

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"Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it's now" - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli shared a heartfelt note on social media while announcing his decision to step down as the India Test skipper. He said that every good thing comes to an end and it was time for him to move away from leadership duties.

"It's been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance everyday to take the team in the right direction," Kohli wrote. "I've done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as Test captain of India, it's now.

"There have been many ups and also some downs along the journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 per cent in everything I do, and if I can't do that, I know it's not the right thing to do. I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team."

Virat Kohli

@imVkohli

494895

75244

🇮🇳 https://t.co/huBL6zZ7fZ

However, Virat Kohli stills remains a part of the leadership group across all formats. He recently returned to form with the bat, registering his 73rd international hundred and is slowly approaching Sachin Tendulkar's 100 international century record.

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