The decision was announced by Kohli a day after India lost the third Test match against South Africa, thereby losing the series by 1-2
Days after being replaced as India's ODI skipper, top batsman Virat Kohli on January 15 announced he is stepping down as the captain of the team's Test format.
The decision was announced by Kohli a day after India lost the third Test match against South Africa, thereby losing the series 1-2.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Kohli thanked former team head coach Ravi Shastra, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and ex-Indian captain MS Dhoni for providing him the guidance during his tenure.
"I want to thank the BCCI for giving me the opportunity to lead my country for such a long period of time and more importantly to all the teammates who bought into the vision I had for the team from day one and never gave up in any situation. You guys have made this journey so memorable and beautiful," he said.
"To Ravi Bhai and the support group who were the engine behind this vehicle that moved us upwards in Test Cricket consistently, you all have played a massive role in bringing this vision to life. Lastly, a big thank you to MS Dhoni who believed in me Captain and found me to be an able individual who could take Indian Cricket forward (sic)," Kohli added.
The BCCI, in a social media post, thanked Kohli for his successful reign as the leader of Indian team in the white-ball format. Out of 68 matches in which he captained the side, India was victorious in 40, the cricketing body pointed out.
BCCI congratulates #TeamIndia captain @imVkohli for his admirable leadership qualities that took the Test team to unprecedented heights. He led India in 68 matches and has been the most successful captain with 40 wins.
