The win meant more to RCB supporters and star player Virat Kohli than simply winning. After the victory, Kohli, the only player to have played for the same team since the start, couldn’t contain his tears. In the final at the storied Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs to eventually win their first IPL championship after an 18-year wait.
After the match, though, he spoke candidly about the value of Test cricket and exhorted new players to show the format a great deal of respect. The seasoned batsman, who just retired from the game’s longest format, ranked his IPL accomplishment far lower than Test cricket’s importance in his career.
“This moment ranks among the greatest ones I’ve experienced in my career, you know. However, it still denotes five Test cricket levels. I appreciate Test cricket to that extent. I adore Test cricket to that extent. Therefore, I would just advise the young people entering to respect that format. Because when you play Test cricket, people everywhere will shake your hand, look you in the eye, and say, “Well done, you played the game really well.” Therefore, after the historic victory for RCB, Kohli encouraged the broadcasters, “Take up Test cricket and give it your all if you want to earn respect in World cricket everywhere.”
The 36-year-old announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12th, capping an incredible 14-year career in red-ball cricket, just weeks before this historic IPL victory. Having played in 123 Test matches, including 68 as captain, and amassed over 9200 runs, Kohli’s enthusiasm and reliable play made him the format’s best booster. Notably, he announced his retirement well before India’s highly anticipated five-match series against England, which begins on June 20.
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