'Why, Virat? We all still need you!': Shashi Tharoor pays glowing tribute to 'immortal' Kohli after Test retirement

NEW DELHI: As tributes poured in for Virat Kohli following his shock retirement from Test cricket on May 12, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s heartfelt message stood out — calling the former Indian captain “immortal in whites” and lamenting the absence of a farewell match for one of India's greatest sporting icons.Tharoor, a known cricket enthusiast, shared a poignant note on social media along with a photograph from his first and only meeting with Kohli during the early days of the latter’s international career. In his message, Tharoor recalled how he had admired Kohli across all formats but held a special reverence for his performances in Test cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"The only time I met the immortal @imVkohli face-to-face, early in his career, when he was well on his way to becoming the legend we have all admired," Tharoor wrote on X. Who's that IPL player?"I’ve watched him bat in various formats and admired him most in Tests. I’m truly sad to see him go so early, so unexpectedly, without even the joy of a farewell Test match at home. Why, Virat? We all still need you!"Kohli, who ended his Test journey at the age of 36, stunned the cricketing world by announcing his decision via Instagram. Over 123 Tests, he amassed 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries, and redefined India’s overseas ambitions as both a batter and leader. Tharoor’s emotional appeal captures a wider sentiment — that Kohli’s sudden exit has left a void that goes beyond numbers. As India gears up for the next World Test Championship cycle, the debate over who fills Kohli’s shoes begins. But for now, the cricketing world pauses to salute a modern-day gladiator who made Test cricket thrilling, intense, and deeply personal.