‘Right time’ as Kohli steps down as India test captain

Virat Kohli has stepped down as captain of India’s test team after seven years in the position.

Kohli led the team for 68 matches and won 40 of them, making him India’s most successful test captain.

He made his decision yesterday in the wake of India losing a test series in South Africa 2-1.

‘‘I have always believed in giving my 120 per cent in everything I do, and if I can’t do that, I know it’s not the right thing to do,’’ Kohli said in a post on Twitter. ‘‘I have absolute clarity in my heart and I cannot be dishonest to my team.’’

‘‘It’s been seven years of hard work, toil and relentless perseverance every day to take the team in the right direction. I’ve done the job with absolute honesty and left nothing out there. ‘‘Everything has to come to a halt at some stage and for me as test captain of India, it’s now.’’

The BCCI thanked Kohli for his ‘‘admirable leadership qualities that took the test team to unprecedented heights.

Kohli, 33, made his India test debut in 2008.

The Dehli-born right-handed batsman captained India to their defeat to the New Zealand Black Caps in the World Test Championship final in 2021.

Meanwhile, Keegan Petersen scored a superb 82 as South Africa completed a seven-wicket victory in the third test and a 2-1 series on a spiteful Newlands pitch by chasing down their challenging target of 212.

It is just the fourth time in 133 years that a team has scored more than 200 in Cape Town to win, and follows the epic seven-wicket victory by Dean Elgar’s team in Johannesburg in the second test when they needed 240 in the fourth innings.