New Delhi, Sep 12: India captain Virat Kohli turned nostalgic on Thursday (September 12) as he tweeted an image with former India captain MS Dhoni. Kohli's tweet triggered the speculations of Dhoni's retirement with the legendary cricketer slated to address a press conference later in the evening.
Kohli is often hailed as one of the fittest cricketers at the moment and his work ethics inspired young athletes to keep raising the bar. His transformation from a chubby young cricketer to fitness freak started in 2012 when the then coach Duncan Fletcher suggested him to focus on his fitness. The Delhi-batsman hasn't looked back since then and established himself as the fittest athlete which eventually helped to take his game to the next level.
Kohli is now regarded as one of the legends to have graced the game and the credit for the same goes to his fitness. The 30-year-old cricketer on Thursday (September 12) took to his Twitter handle to reveal about a match in which former India captain MS Dhoni made him run like a fitness Test.
Kohli shared the image in which he could be seen celebrating after India beat Australia in T20 World Cup 2016 match in Mohali, and captioned, "A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test."
A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test 😄 @msdhoni 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/pzkr5zn4pG
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 12, 2019
Kohli could be seen on his knees while Dhoni is walking towards him after scoring the winning runs in the virtual quarter-final. Chasing 161, Kohli scored unbeaten 82 and steered India to a famous win.
After the dismissal of Yuvraj Singh in the 14th over, captain Dhoni, one of the quickest players in between the wickets, walked in the middle to join Kohli.
With 67 required from the last six over, Dhoni and Kohli put immediate pressure on Australian fielders by converting singles into doubles and punishing the loose deliveries.
Kohli showed superb fitness in the death overs as he ran as many as four doubles in a single over. Eventually, India won the match by 6 wickets with four balls to spare.
However, many questioned the timing of the Indian captain's tweet offering a tribute to Dhoni. Kohli's tweet triggered the speculations about the 37-year-old's retirement.
MS Dhoni announced retirement I guess personally to Kohli on phone.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 12, 2019
We love Dhoni 😍😍😍
— Saffron Soul 🇮🇳 🚩 (@SaffronS0ul) September 12, 2019
Please don't retire 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Mahi bhai will soon make a come back in ODIs
— Chowkidar Nirav Modi (@niiravmodi) September 12, 2019
Thanks VK for giving this hint and get ready to run more between the wickets once again 😀
Hope not! Want to see him getting a well-deserved farewell!! But knowing #Dhoni ..he may simply walk off!
— Divya (@divdivdiv) September 12, 2019
Don't think MS Dhoni will return to international cricket and we may not see him play for India again. Will be disappointing for fans but not shocking since the Dhoni we know hardly runs for glare and limelight , even in retirement , I expect him to smile and wrap things up.
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRai) September 12, 2019
Press conference today at 7pm !!!
— ரௌடி ᴰᴬᴿᴮᴬᴿ 🌟 (@Rowdy_3_) September 12, 2019
Thala don't do this🙏😌
All we ask for is one Farewell match in India🙏🙄#Dhoni pic.twitter.com/vR9jyE8685
Don't write off #Dhoni like this... He deserves much more than what is happening right now @BCCI https://t.co/cuFIdbAgYb
— Nishant Sinha (@NishantSinha29) September 12, 2019
After rumor of #Dhoni retirement spreading everywhere
— Raj की बात 🇮🇳 (@tejasvi7raj) September 12, 2019
Me: #Dhoni pic.twitter.com/ysb8eXv0We
For all those #Dhoni fans and TeamIndia Fans wondering if there is a presser, If there is one, the Media will get to know and report it. So don't feed rumour mills and waste your time.
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) September 12, 2019
After returning from England following Team India's exit in World Cup semi-final, Dhoni took a couple of months break and went to serve the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir. Dhoni, therefore, was not picked up for the West Indies tour and later the selectors didn't pick the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman for three T20I matches against South Africa, starting September 15.