India head coach Gautam Gambhir and Kohli’s idol, Sachin Tendulkar, led the flood of emotional reactions on social media.

Harsha Bhogle also paid rich tribute to India's talisman, saying the game's longest format owes the 36-year-old for making Test cricket cool.

Sachin Tendulkar paid an emotional tribute to Virat Kohli, recalling a heartfelt gesture when he retired from international cricket after the Mumbai Test against West Indies in 2013.