NEW DELHI: Following Virat Kohli’s unexpected retirement from Test cricket, his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma has praised the 36-year-old for an extraordinary red-ball career and expressed hope that the batting icon will lead India to victory in the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.Kohli, who brought the curtain down on a 14-year Test career just weeks before India’s WTC cycle begins with the England series, left a significant legacy in whites. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Rajkumar Sharma, speaking to ANI, said Kohli’s absence from Test cricket will be felt deeply but saluted his contributions to Indian cricket.“I salute him for his tremendous contribution to Indian Cricket, and as a coach, I am proud of him for what he has done for the country and the example he has set for the youngsters. Emotionally, it hurts that we won’t be seeing him in whites again for the country,” said Sharma. “ I appreciate and back his decision…Hopefully, he will be there to win the 2027 ODI World Cup for India and he will be 100 per cent committed to it.”ALSO READ: Virat Kohli’s Ranji coach drops bombshell on Test retirement: ‘He was preparing for England tour’Kohli’s Test journey began in 2011 against the West Indies, and though his debut tour was forgettable, he soon established himself as a pillar in the Indian batting lineup. His breakthrough came in Adelaide in 2012 with a gritty 116, standing tall in a series where legends faltered.From 2016 to 2019, Kohli enjoyed a golden phase, scoring 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79. He also became the only captain to hit seven double centuries in Test history.

Despite a dip in form in the 2020s, Kohli still delivered crucial performances, including a century in Perth last year.

Kohli’s career has been defined by resilience — whether dominating pace attacks in Australia, redeeming himself in England, or battling tough spells against spin and seam. His passion, discipline, and hunger for runs helped raise the standard of Indian cricket on the global stage.Though his whites are now hung up, Kohli’s story isn’t over. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, fans and mentors like Sharma are hopeful that one final chapter of glory awaits.