I wish I had come up with the title for this article, but the truth is, this is just what Virat means.

I highly recommend checking out my first ever article for those who aren't aware of how big of an impact Virat Kohli has had on my life.

https://www.thebatpacker.com/post/001-mayhem-in-mohali

For those of you who know, let's begin.

Nothing summarises this 7-year tenure as well as the tweet below.

Test cricket lost its value for most kids from my generation after Sachin Tendulkar retired. We followed but never really cared.

I remember being ridiculously confused and baffled when M.S.Dhoni retired from test cricket. I didn't know what to make of it. A part of me felt with all the legends retiring, T20 cricket on the rise, test cricket might be something the older generation spoke about whilst being nostalgic.

Barring 2 - 3 of my friends, I didn't know anyone who prioritized watching test cricket over the other formats.

Who will spend five days watching defence or well lefts when T20 Cricket offers you quick entertainment unlike anything else. I don't mean to deviate from the topic, but it's essential to set the context.

The beauty of test cricket is that, it's like life. You're at your lowest one second and then shortly after, you're at the peak.

After a forgetful, possibly career-ending England tour in the summer of 2014. In comes a young, fiery 26-year-old. Ready to lead.

Unapologetic, fierce, and brave.

I remember the very first time he was verbally taking on Mitchell Johnson and David Warner; I told myself, "What an absolute twat, they're gonna batter him".

I remember fearing for him because no one had been as in your face as he had, that fine day in Adelaide.

What I witnessed next was something I never had in my 15-20 years of watching cricket. I had never seen anyone, dominate and get under Aussie skin the way this 26-year old did, not even the G.O.A.T. Sachin.

Pasting them across the park and setting the tone for what lay ahead, a generation of fearless cricket.

I won't get into the statistics, the records, the individual moments of brilliance. What happened in these 7 years is there for everyone to know and remember.

All I would like to say is Thank You.

Sachin, made us believe we can be the best at something.

You made us believe that opponents can and should fear us too.

You may not like his on field conduct, a lot of my closest people endorse the "Gentlemen's" way of playing the game, like say a Rahul Dravid or a Kane Williamson or an Ajinkya Rahane. Personally I prefer playing my cricket like that too.

But do I love to see our boys going toe to toe with the best in the world?

Giving it back instead of holding yourself ? Being aggressive and not passive?

Absolutely.

"What an absolute twat, they're gonna batter him". - this was a result of my brain being conditioned through years of inferiority complex developed by watching a dominating Australia team for the best part of my childhood.

I'm not here seeking Aussie validation, but truth is, the Aussies were the benchmark of our generation growing up. There is only one player who intimidated them the way they intimidated us growing up. Virat Kohli.

The ruthlessness he brought to the game whilst dawning the whites is what has honestly kept Test Cricket at the pinacle of Indian Cricket today. This is why, despite the lures surrounding T20 Cricket, every player in the set up wants to represent the test side.

I don't know what has happened in the build up to this decision in the backend, but the truth is that the last 5-6 months haven't been the best. We lost the WTC Finals, didn't have an ideal T20 World Cup.

I also felt a change should be considered but ideally one with a transition. In white ball cricket, there is a serious contender in Rohit, in test cricket, I currently don't see anyone capable enough to take the format forward. Rahane would have been the ideal replacement if we were having this conversation a year ago, right after the Australia series.

Anyway I don't really know how to end this because it still feels surreal.

Once again, all I'd like to say is "Thank you".

I know I'll be dawning the MRF gear while wearing my whites only to replicate a fraction of what it feels like to be in your shoes.

Thank you #269.