Virat Kohli Test Retirement – Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Tribute to His Passion

Bhuvneshwar Kumar Reflects on Virat Kohli’s Test Legacy: “His Passion Rubbed Off on Everyone”

A Leader Who Changed the Game

Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket in May 2025 marked the end of an era not just for Indian cricket fans, but for the players who shared the dressing room with him. Among the many tributes that poured in, one stood out for its depth and honesty. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a seasoned campaigner and Kohli’s long-time teammate, offered heartfelt praise for the former Indian captain’s influence on the Test side.

"The way Virat captained in the Test format, he deserves credit for the way we transformed as a team," Bhuvneshwar said. "He is aggressive, we all know that, and in Test cricket, you need that nature somewhere. It was the hunger in Virat that said, ‘we have to do something, we don't have to just go through the motions, we have to create chances.’ I think Virat’s passion rubbed off on everyone."

This wasn’t just a compliment. It was a summary of a cultural shift in Indian cricket one that turned a competitive team into an unrelenting force in red-ball cricket.

Kohli’s Passion Rewired India’s Test DNA

Before Kohli took over as Test captain in 2014, India had experienced success in patches. Overseas victories were rare. Aggression was subdued. Fitness wasn’t yet a national standard. Then came Kohli with his unapologetic intensity, unmatched work ethic, and fierce belief in competing hard every single day.

In 68 Tests as captain, Kohli won 40 more than any other Indian captain in history. His leadership wasn’t just about strategy. It was about raising the bar. He backed pacers, built fitness into a team identity, and demanded accountability on and off the field. Under him, India won its first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018–19 and became the No. 1 Test team in the world.

This is what Bhuvneshwar was pointing to. Kohli didn’t just win games. He rewrote expectations.

Bhuvneshwar and Kohli: A Bond Beyond the Field

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Virat Kohli came up through the ranks around the same time and shared countless highs and lows as teammates. While Bhuvneshwar’s calm demeanour contrasts with Kohli’s fire, both share an unwavering commitment to excellence.

The mutual respect was always clear, whether during India’s overseas campaigns or while donning different jerseys in the IPL. Their partnership extended beyond bowling and batting Bhuvneshwar, like many others, found inspiration in Kohli’s approach. As a swing bowler thriving in an era of flat decks and white-ball prioritization, Bhuvneshwar found strength in the team culture that Kohli fostered: always fight, never fade.

The RCB Factor: A Shared Journey in Bengaluru

Though Bhuvneshwar has been more synonymous with Sunrisers Hyderabad, his recent stints and deeper ties with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have brought his journey closer to Kohli’s in the IPL setup as well. Kohli has been the heartbeat of RCB since the franchise's inception, symbolizing their “Play Bold” philosophy both on the field and as a brand.

RCB’s identity reflects the very ethos Kohli carried as a leader: intensity, belief, and fearlessness. Under his stewardship, RCB became more than just a cricket team. It grew into a lifestyle brand, expanding through ventures like RCB Hustle, Dash of RCB, and the RCB Bar & Café. In 2024, their women’s team claimed the Women’s Premier League title a landmark moment for the franchise.

This boldness, on-field passion, and off-field innovation mirror the cultural change Kohli has pushed for across all formats.

Test Cricket Without Kohli? A Void Hard to Fill

As Kohli walks away from the longest format, Indian Test cricket loses its most vocal warrior. He wasn’t just a run machine—though 9,230 runs and 30 centuries speak for themselves he was the emotional anchor. The guy who sprinted after every wicket, pumped his fists even at a dropped chance, and made the whites feel electric.

Bhuvneshwar’s tribute cuts to the core: Test cricket, by nature, is a grind. Kohli made it a mission. His energy was contagious. His standards were impossible to ignore. And now, his absence will be impossible to miss.

What’s Next for Kohli and Indian Cricket?

Kohli will continue to play in limited-overs formats and remain a central figure in Indian cricket through the IPL and national white-ball squads. But the void he leaves in the Test arena is undeniable.

For Bhuvneshwar Kumar and others in the squad, Kohli’s departure signals the end of a high-voltage chapter. Yet, his legacy isn’t just in stats or wins. It’s in the mindset. The belief that India can and should dominate anywhere, against anyone.

Future leaders will carry that flame. But it started with Kohli. And as Bhuvneshwar rightly said, “Virat’s passion rubbed off on everyone.”