Virat Kohli who is playing his 100th Test match currently against Sri Lanka reacted emotionally to news of legendary leg spinner Shane Warne passing way before the start of play on Day 2 in the Mohali Test.
Australian spinner Shane Warne passed away aged 52 in Thailand due to a suspected heart attack.
Virat Kohli Said Shane Warne’s Death Was Unexpected And He Is In Disbelief And Shock After Hearing The News
At a time when world cricket was celebrating ex-Indian captain Virat Kohli’s 100th Test, the sporting fraternity was hit by a big shock as legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne passed away aged just 52. The ex-Australian leg-spinner passed away due to a ‘suspected heart attack’ in Thailand according to a statement released by his family.
Ahead of play starting on Day 2 of the first India-Sri Lanka Test match at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali, a visibly emotional Virat Kohli gave a heartfelt tribute to Shane Warne. The talisman batter claimed he is in ‘disbelief and shock’ while hailing the departed leg-spinner as the ‘greatest spinner ever.
“Got the sad news last night about demise of Shane Warne last night. Out of nowhere to be honest. We keep doing what we do and we think life is all about what we are involved in. I realise very quickly life is too unpredictable and fickle and need to grateful for all the moments we are alive,” said Virat Kohli.
“Passing at age of 52 is totally unexpected, went far too early. I stand here in disbelief and shock as I got to know him off-the field too. He brought a charisma to every conversation he was part and with that I could understand what he brought on the field as well,” said Virat Kohli to Star Sports.“Just a honest honest man, any conversation you could see he spoke too clearly, knew exactly what he was saying. He lived life king-size. Very grateful to have known him, for me the greatest spinner to play the game. I hope we can put the right perspective about life and just be grateful god has blessed us with to be alive and healthy. My deepest condolences to their family and they have all our support. God bless his soul,” he added.
Shane Warne was the first to breach the 600 and the 700-wicket mark in Tests. While Shane Warne finished his career with 708 wickers, Muttiah Muralitharan picked up 92 more(800).
In 2005, two years after he was slapped with a one-year-ban, Shane Warne produced his best year statistically in Test cricket, when he picked up a total of 96 wickets from 15 matches at an average of 22.02. This is still a record for the most wickets scalped by a bowler in a calendar year.
Shane Warne Has Most Ashes Wickets And Led Rajasthan Royals To IPL 2008 Win
With 195 wickets from 36 Tests, Shane Warne holds the record for taking the most wickets by a bowler in the Ashes. With an average of 23.25, no bowler has come to taking as many Ashes wickets. In his maiden Ashes series in 1993, Shane Warne cemented himself grabbing 34 wickets from six Tests including a best of 5/82.
Shane Warne was 37 when he was named captain of the Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition of the IPL in 2008. No one gave Rajasthan Royals a chance ahead of the star-studded other teams, but if there was anything Shane Warne knew being part of a dominating Australian team for years was that losing was not an option.
The Aussie legend marshalled his young troops into the final, where they got the better of MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. It was during the same year that the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan were unearthed by Warne.