New Delhi: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) praised Virat Kohli's "admirable leadership qualities" after he stepped down as Test skipper.
The Indian cricket board took to Twitter, saying, "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."
The 33-year-old took the reins as Test captain for the first time against Australia in December 2014 as MS Dhoni was not part of the team due to an injury.
Kohli scored 115 in India's first innings, becoming the fourth Indian to score a century on Test captaincy debut.
His last game as skipper was the third and series-deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town, which India lost by seven wickets on January 14.
In a statement released on Twitter, Kohli said, "It’s been 7 years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance every day to take the team in the righ direction. I’ve done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. Every thing 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 th journey, but never has there been a lack of effort or lack of belief. I have always believed in giving my 120 percent 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.
"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. To Ravi Bhai and the support group who were the engine behind this vehicle that move 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 as a captain and found me to be an able individual who could take Indian Cricket forward," Kohli signed off.
In September 2021, Kohli had announced that he would give up T20 leadership following the T20 World Cup 2021. After the showpiece event, where India were eliminated in the group stage, the BCCI removed Kohli as ODI captain and appointed Rohit Sharma as new white-ball skipper. (UNI)
