Virat Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest Test batters of his generation, continues to earn admiration for his deep love and passion for the longest format of the game. Even after retiring from Test cricket in May 2025, Kohli has repeatedly spoken about how much the format means to him, something that recently drew huge praise from England legend Ian Botham.Kohli brought down the curtain on his illustrious Test career on May 12, 2025, finishing with 9,230 runs in 123 matches along with a remarkable legacy as one of India’s most successful Test captains. Despite stepping away from the format, the former India skipper has never hidden his emotional connection to Test cricket and the pride he takes in India’s achievements during his era. Moments after finally winning his maiden IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025, ending an 18-year wait, Kohli made headlines with his honest remarks about where the achievement stood in comparison to Test cricket.“You know, this moment is right up there with the best moments I have had in my career, but it still ranks five levels below Test cricket. That is how much I love Test cricket and that is how much I value Test cricket,” Kohli had said after RCB’s title triumph.Former England captain Ian Botham also lauded Kohli’s mindset and commitment to the traditional format, saying the Indian superstar’s words perfectly captured his greatness as a cricketer.“I love it when Virat Kohli says winning Test matches for India means more to him than anything else in the game. That, for me, sums him up, even including winning the IPL,” Botham said during the 12th edition of the Tiger Pataudi Memorial Lecture, organised jointly by The Bengal Club and The Telegraph. “For me, he is certainly one of the finest players in Test cricket,” the England legend added.Adding to it, more recently, during an RCB podcast, Kohli reflected emotionally on India’s memorable Test journey under his leadership.“I looked back at the time I was able to play Test cricket for so long and lead India through some amazing victories and a golden era in our Test journey. We were a bunch of young guys who always wanted to play Test cricket for India, and we got the opportunity of our lives together as a group,” Kohli said.These statements, even after his retirement from the format, underline Kohli’s immense respect and passion for Test cricket.
