Dear Virat… King Kohli…. not sure how to begin this open letter, but let me dive straight in. Bro, you have to put us out of your misery. I feel your time in Test match cricket is up. That busy strut to the wicket, that animatic waving of the arms with the MC BC celebrations, that sheer energy that you exhibit, now has a hollow ring to it. The fitness cannot disguise that the form has faded, that stony face—does it hide a sadness or are you just immune to anything, do you still believe you’re the greatest? Rohit, in comparison, his feelings are transparent, Ashwin has retired. Now there’s just you.

That number four position you bat at, the best batsmen usually bat there, Sachin, Lara, Root, Viv, Kane all played there, to navigate an innings, accelerate, anchor,  when India’s in trouble, you look to your number four batsman to bail you out. Sadly, now we’ve stopped believing, that you can, the way you once could. And it is painful, to see a saviour, a hero, the man who always stood on that burning deck, flailing badly.