At last, after 18 years, Virat Kohli has finally gotten his hands on the coveted Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad to win their maiden IPL title. But despite the magnitude of the occasion, Kohli, who retired from Test cricket on May 12, addressed the importance of the longest format.
Kohli’s Test retirement came as a shock to many as the former captain called time on his career ahead of the all-important England tour, where India are slated to play five Tests.
Kohli ended his Test career, having played 123 Tests, in which he scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85. He smashed 30 centuries and 31 fifties in his 14-year-long career in whites.
While speaking with former Australia batter Matthew Hayden after the IPL 2025 final, Kohli said that RCB winning the tournament means the world to him, but it still ranks five levels under Test cricket.
“This moment is right up there with the best moments I’ve had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket. That’s how much I value Test cricket. And that’s how much I love Test cricket. So I would just urge the youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect,” said Kohli.
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“Because if you perform in Test cricket, you walk around anywhere in the world, people look you in the eye and shake your hand and say, well done, you played the game really well,” he added.
‘If you want to earn respect, take up Test cricket’
Kohli, who is the most successful Indian Test captain, having led the team to 40 victories under his tenure, said if young players want to earn respect around the world, then they need to take up Test cricket.
“So if you want to earn respect in world cricket all over, take up Test cricket. Give your heart and soul to it. And when you walk out with wonders on the other side, then you gain respect in the cricket world with legends like yourselves,” said Kohli.
And boy. Respect did he earn. India achieved some incredible highs during Kohli’s time as captain. He became the first Indian skipper to lead India to a Test series win in Australia, and came perilously close to doing the same in England. With him in charge, India assembled a pace-bowling unit that made picking 20 wickets a Test a habit. Although he stepped away from the post in January 2022, Kohli kept giving his best to the format. With the bat, Kohli’s 2018 tour of England arguable overshadows it all, where he pummelled 697 runs including three centuries.
Back to the IPL 2025 final, RCB posted 190/9 in the allotted twenty overs. Virat Kohli top-scored for the franchise with a knock of 43 off 35 balls.
Krunal Pandya then returned with the figures of 2/17 in his quota of four overs as RCB won the contest by six runs. Romario Shephard took the crucial wicket of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer.
After the match came to an end, Kohli broke down and he struggled to fight back tears. The entire RCB squad came up to him to celebrate the victory.
