'My way': How Virat Kohli's farewell story on Instagram becomes a testament to his career

'No 18' retires from the longest format of the sport as India's favorite. But he hasn't always enjoyed the privilege of being in the spotlight, nor was he predestined for greatness. Thirty-six-year-old Virat Kohli has had quite the journey in his cricketing career, and whether in triumph or trial, he has always done things his way. The song he chose while announcing his decision – Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ – is a testament to his career and life itself.Kohli’s exploits and achievements both at the crease and as captain are likely his greatest contributions. However, the undeniable fact that the man has ventured far beyond the crease and into the hearts of millions for a multitude of reasons supports the supposition that he has navigated the cricketing puzzle on his own terms. Kohli leads from the front, has shown tremendous conviction in his decisions, and paved the way for a new generation of Indian superstars.

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Kohli’s

fitness regime

and obsession with peak performance have set him apart from his peers. His well-documented journey into fitness began in 2012, and after thirteen long years of top-flight cricket, Kohli has no plans to pause, although age may have hampered the intensity, not the intent. Kohli’s conviction that fitness is a prerequisite, that being at his very best entails being the best version of his body, has paid off. The man has transformed fitness into a lifestyle, into a statement, and into something that every modern cricketer flashing their abs and biceps on camera understands – it is part of the game.

Kohli has, over the years, also mastered the art of letting his performance on the pitch speak for itself. This characteristic is underlined in the numerous calls he made as captain. In Tests, the veteran made several striking decisions that weren’t particularly welcome changes, yet Kohli’s resolve carries a sense of finality in the modern game. In Tests, Kohli opted to shift India’s reliance from spin to pace to secure victories, making the transition to a pace-heavy line-up.

Part of Kohli’s legacy is also tied to the screen. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain was one of the earliest, if not the very first, Indian cricketers to realize the potential of social media as a platform to connect with his followers, endorse brands (which were later purged from his account), and shape his own narrative. His 272 million followers on Instagram is the highest for any sportsperson in Asia and second only to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo globally in that category.Who's that IPL player?India’s favorite has also evolved far beyond the confines of the stadium. His efforts in catapulting his image into that of a personal brand, something never before seen in the cricketing scene, further supports the claim that his persona has been one of leadership ever since his career took shape.What started as a dream run to the summit of Indian cricket has now evolved into a barrage of records (both set and broken), a nexus of brand deals, and a legacy that will withstand the test of time. Kohli, both as a player and captain, has stepped down on his own terms and gracefully bowed out of the most demanding format of the game, not just as a legend, but more so as an icon for generations to come.