• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Virat Kohli Craze Grips Op Sindoor Briefing Indias Dgmo Tributes Favourite Cricketer

Virat Kohli Craze Grips Op Sindoor Briefing! India's DGMO Tributes 'Favourite Cricketer'

Soumyajit Dutta

Rajiv Ghai and Virat Kohli [Source: @sunilgarhwali/X]Rajiv Ghai and Virat Kohli [Source: @sunilgarhwali/X]

Virat Kohli’s recent retirement from Test cricket has resonated far beyond the cricketing world, with Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, India’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), unexpectedly praising the star batter during a high-level press briefing. 

On May 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM IST, the Indian stalwart hung up his boots in the Whites as the whole nation rued his decision. Surprisingly, during an Operation Sindoor briefing later in the day, Rajiv Ghai brought up Kohli's retirement in the limelight to pay tribute to the stalwart.

Kohli's Reign Extends to IND-PAK Scene!

Addressing journalists about Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror strike in response to the Pahalgam attack, Lt. Gen. Ghai paused to acknowledge Virat Kohli’s impact, calling him a national favorite. 

“Aaj shayad cricket ki baat bhi karni chahiye… Virat Kohli ne Test cricket se retirement le li. Kayi Bharatiyon ki tarah, mere bhi favourite cricketer hain.” (Perhaps I should talk about cricket today… Virat Kohli has retired from Tests. Like many Indians, he’s my favourite too).

The batting legend’s decision, announced days before India’s squad selection for the England Tests, closes a 14-year chapter that redefined India’s Test cricket identity.

Kohli's Emotional Adieu To Test Cricket

Kohli’s retirement follows captain Rohit Sharma’s exit, leaving a leadership and experience void. His Instagram farewell note, brimming with nostalgia, highlighted Test cricket’s gruelling yet transformative nature. The 36-year-old’s legacy of 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and a trailblazing captaincy record, cements him as one of India’s greatest red-ball stalwarts.

In his emotional post, Kohli reflected, “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue… The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but stay with you forever. As I step away… it’s not easy—but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had.”

Kohli’s captaincy and historic 2018-19 Australia series triumph remain career highlights. As many tributes pour in, fans and peers alike celebrate a career that blended mastery with heart.