Virat Kohli gifts Shakib Al Hasan with Bangladesh legend likely having made last Test appearance against India in Kanpur

With the Test series between India and Bangladesh coming to an end in a thrilling final day in Kanpur on Tuesday, fans might have seen the last of legendary all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan in whites.

The spin-bowling all-rounder, after all, had indicated last week that the second Test against India in Kanpur might be his last red-ball appearance for Bangladesh.

While Shakib was not given an official farewell by his teammates or by the opposition, Indian batting star Virat Kohli did win hearts by gifting the former Bangladesh captain a bat during the presentation ceremony in Kanpur.

Virat Kohli gifted his signed bat to Shakib Al Hasan and congratulated him❤️

- King Kohli as always! 🥹🫡 pic.twitter.com/zRVB2CsHSU

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) October 1, 2024

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Virat Kohli presents a Bat to Shakib Al Hasan 😍💞#ViratKohli #ShakibAlHasan#INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/kgjGNYojU8

— Chowdhury Shamim (@chowdhurysamim) October 1, 2024

Shakib had announced his retirement from T20Is during the press conference at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium on Thursday, adding that he was planning to retire from Tests at the end of the upcoming home series against South Africa in Mirpur.

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However, Shakib’s chances of participating in that series appears highly doubtful due to his massive fall in popularity back home.

The star cricketer was, after all, was also a Member of Parliament with the Awami League, the party led by ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that was in power for 15 years before being overthrown in August following weeks of nation-wide protests that later turned bloody.

Bangladesh sports minister Asif Mahmud had recently made a public statement directed at the star cricketer that while the government was ready to offer him security upon his return home, Shakib had to make his political stand clear in the coming weeks.

After losing the Test series 2-0, which followed a historic Test series win in Pakistan by a similar margin, Bangladesh are scheduled to play three T20Is in India before returning home.

South Africa are scheduled to play two Tests in Bangladesh. The first one in Mirpur, which Shakib had intended to be his final Test appearance, gets underway on 21 while the second Test takes place in Chattogram starting 2 November.