When Virat Kohli was appointed captain of the Indian cricket team in 2017, it was the former skipper MS Dhoni who mostly called the shots on the field, and Kohli the captain always stood by his decision for the better. Today, when Mr Cool – as Dhoni is referred to as given his on-field temperament – announced his retirement from international cricket, skipper Kohli gave him an emotional send off.

For his “skip”, Kohli has nothing but the words of praise and gratitude.

View this post on Instagram

Every cricketer has to end his journey one day, but still when someone you've gotten to know so closely announces that decision, you feel the emotion much more. What you've done for the country will always remain in everyone's heart, but the mutual respect and warmth I've received from you will always stay in mine. The world has seen achievements, I've seen the person. Thanks for everything skip. I tip my hat to you ??? @mahi7781

A post shared by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) on Aug 15, 2020 at 8:41am PDT

MS Dhoni, who often surprised everyone on the field with not-so-predictable super-charged innings, today silently announced his retirement from international cricket with an Instagram post of a montage capturing his career with the national team.

Virat Kohli made his debut in all formats of the game under Dhoni, and grew as a cricketer. Kohli on several occasions has said that it was Dhoni who was behind his transformation from an aggressive teammate to a patient captain.

Also Read: Suresh Raina ‘follows’ Dhoni, takes retirement from international cricket

Kohli, in an Instagram live chat with India off-spinner R Ashwin in May this year, had said that it was Dhoni who paved ways for his captaincy.

“From the day I came into the Indian side, I wanted to learn and was intrigued by the game. I would always be in Dhoni’s ears on the field. I would be bouncing off a lot of my ideas with him, of which he would refuse plenty. But he would also discuss a few things with me if he liked an idea. He would always keep observing me. I kept learning from him and my inquisitiveness probably gave him the belief and confidence that perhaps I was the next guy to lead the country,” the 31-year-old said on Ashwin’s show Reminisce With Ash.

Also Read: MS Dhoni: From being runout on ODI debut to becoming India’s most successful captain

Kohli, who believes that it was Dhoni who played a “big role” in getting him the captaincy, had said: “I don’t think the selectors appointed me as India captain suddenly. They probably had Dhoni as a sounding board before giving me the reins. I believe Dhoni played a big role in me getting the India captaincy.”

MS Dhoni, who had announced his retirement from Tests in 2014, has played 350 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 98 T20 matches (T20Is). Often called the most successful captain in the Indian cricket, India lifted the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the World Twenty20 in 2007 under Dhoni’s captaincy. He also led India to the ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2013 in England.