India, Aug. 9 -- Virat Kohli's decision to step away from Test cricket in May this year brought the curtain down on one of the most illustrious careers in the format's modern era. Amassing 9230 runs in 123 matches, Kohli was, for the better part of a decade, a defining presence in red-ball cricket. His name was etched into the celebrated 'Fab Four' batting club alongside Kane Williamson, Joe Root, and Steve Smith, a quartet that set benchmarks for consistency and quality in the longest format.

But the past couple of years saw Kohli's returns dip, with the 2024/25 season marking an unmistakable low: just one century and no fifties in three series, including two at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand, and another away in Australia.

Ye...