Star Indian batter Virat Kohli gifted his bat to all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan following the conclusion of the second test between India and Bangladesh at Green Park, Kanpur. Prior to the match, Shakib had mentioned that the upcoming Test series against South Africa would likely be his final appearance in red-ball cricket. However, due to the ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh, it’s uncertain if he will return to play in that series, suggesting he may have already played his last Test.
After the fourth day of the Test, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla was asked whether the Indian team or the board had any special plans to honor Shakib on Day 5. He responded that no official communication had been received from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the matter.
The moment of Kohli presenting his bat to Shakib quickly went viral on social media. Shakib, who has played 71 Tests for Bangladesh, has amassed 4609 runs at an average of 37.77 and claimed 246 wickets. He was also part of the squad that triumphed over Pakistan in a two-match away Test series before facing India.
Shakib’s potential retirement is a major loss for Bangladesh, as he is widely regarded as their greatest all-rounder and a proven match-winner in all formats. However, his performance in red-ball cricket has declined recently, with his struggles evident in the series against Pakistan and India. He managed only 66 runs in four innings and took four wickets in the series against India.
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