13/05/2025
â269. Signing off.â
That number, now etched in history.
Virat Kohli has played his final Test.
And Ben Strokes, what a gut punch that is.
We didnât just grow up watching him.
We grew with him.
He wasnât just a cricketer, he was a mirror.
For every time we wanted to quit, but didnât. For every time we screamed into pillows and still showed up the next morning. For every time we had to re-teach ourselves how to believe.
âIâve always believed that if you work hard enough, you can achieve anything.â
â Kohli, 2018.
That wasn't just about centuries, it was about mindset.
About how belief doesnât come naturally, itâs built.
In silence. In grind. In therapy. In time.
Virat taught us that mental fitness is as real as physical.
That self-awareness isn't weakness, itâs strength.
âYou need to understand when you need to step back.â
â Kohli, 2022.
When he took that break after 2.5 years without a century, he gave every burnt-out soul permission to pause. To breathe. To not be okay.
That was his bravest innings yet.
âI came back feeling light. I hadnât felt that in a long time.â
â After Asia Cup 2022.
Discipline, he showed us, isnât just about runs and reps,
Itâs about choosing peace.
Choosing consistency over chaos.
Choosing whatâs right for you, even when the world doesnât get it.
âI have always prioritized discipline in every aspect of life.â
â Kohli, 2020.
Virat led with vulnerability, on and off the field.
From fighting through form slumps to being open about mental fatigue.
He showed us that real strength isnât in never falling, itâs in how you rise, again and again.
He redefined masculinity.
Not just with pumped fists, but with reflection.
With honesty. With growth.
Today, weâre emotional. Weâre proud. Weâre shattered.
But above all, weâre grateful.
Because Virat Kohli didnât just give us moments.
He gave us meaning.
So hereâs to the man who made us believe.
In comebacks. In control. In courage.
269. Signing off. .kohli
But never, ever forgotten.
