The Unwritten Farewell...

The Unwritten Farewell: How Indian Cricket Let Down One of Its Greatest

In a country where cricket is revered as a religion, one would expect its legends to be celebrated with the respect they deserve. Yet, recent events in Indian cricket suggest a narrative that is far more political, regional, and disturbingly silent. When greatness is ignored and mediocrity is glorified, the soul of the game begins to wither.

Let’s start with a striking contrast.

A player with just over 4000 Test runs gets a stadium stand named after him. A remarkable moment, no doubt — but then you remember Ajinkya Rahane, a seasoned campaigner with over 5000 runs, the architect of India's historic win at the Gabba, and a reliable middle-order presence for years. His exit from the team? Quiet. No farewell, no celebration, not even a proper acknowledgment.

But the most glaring example of this systemic injustice lies in the treatment of Virat Kohli — a name that redefined Indian cricket in the 21st century.

With 9000+ Test runs, 80+ international centuries, and a reign as captain that saw India rise to the top of the Test rankings, Kohli's contribution is immeasurable. He transformed the team's attitude, prioritized fitness like never before, and made India a dominant force overseas. His passion, aggression, and consistency inspired a generation.

And yet, there is no farewell in sight.

No final Test to honor his journey. No formal send-off. No tribute from the board. Just silence — a silence that speaks volumes.

This isn't a natural fade-out. This is a deliberate cold shoulder. And it began the moment Kohli challenged the system.

When he decided to step down from T20 captaincy, he was stripped of his ODI captaincy without even a direct conversation. Later, he was pushed out of the Test captaincy — a role in which he had flourished. In his place, Rohit Sharma, a fine cricketer no doubt, but also a symbol of something deeper: the longstanding dominance of the Mumbai cricket lobby in Indian cricket administration.

For decades, Mumbai has enjoyed disproportionate influence over Indian cricket — in selection, in leadership, in media narrative. Players from other zones often find themselves on the outside looking in, no matter how great their contributions. Kohli, hailing from Delhi and known for speaking his mind, never fit into that quiet, obedient mold. And when he crossed certain invisible lines, the consequences were swift and cold.

Fans aren’t blind. They see what’s happening.

They see a legend being frozen out, his legacy slowly being sanitized, his contributions downplayed. The same fans who filled stadiums, roared at every cover drive, and bled blue when Kohli led from the front are now watching helplessly as the system turns its back on him.

Legends deserve farewells.

They deserve closure.

They deserve gratitude.

And if Virat Kohli — one of the greatest players the game has ever seen — can be treated this way, what hope is there for anyone else?

Indian cricket needs to look in the mirror. Because if politics and regional bias continue to overshadow merit and legacy, it won’t just lose players — it will lose the respect of its fans.