Happy Birthday GOAT: Riyan Parag pens emotional wish for idol Virat Kohli

India and Rajasthan Royals all-rounder, Riyan Parag, penned an emotional birthday note for his idol Virat Kohli. Wishes have been pouring in for the former India captain who turned 36 on Tuesday, November 5.

In Short

• Wishes poured in for Virat Kohli, who turned 36 on Tuesday
• Riyan Parag said Kohli inspired him to become a cricketer
• Riyan and Kohli played one ODI together in Sri Lanka

As Virat Kohli turned 36 on Tuesday, 5 November, fans have been pouring in birthday wishes for the superstar cricketer. Among his biggest admirers, Riyan Parag penned a heartfelt note on social media, wishing the 'greatest of all time' continued success in inspiring the next generation of cricketers.

Parag took to social media to share an Instagram story, highlighting the profound impact Virat Kohli has had on his cricketing journey. He expressed his admiration for Kohli’s 'passion, aggression, and work ethic'.

Interestingly, Parag shared a photo of Kohli celebrating a wicket he took during the only one-day international they played together earlier this year, marking a memorable moment with his idol.

"Happy Birthday to the greatest of all time! Your passion, aggression, and unmatched work ethic have not only set the standard in cricket but have also shaped me into the player I am today. Watching you play has been an inspiration, but sharing the field with you is a memory I will carry with me forever. Thank you for being a true legend, on and off the field. Here's to many more years of greatness!" Riyan Parag said in his Instagram story.

Riyan Parag has often expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli. Over the years, Parag has never missed an opportunity to interact with his idol on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League matches.

Riyan Parag will be next in action in a four-match T20I series in South Africa, starting November 8. Kohli, on the other hand, will rejoin the Indian team when they depart to Australia for the much-anticipated five-match Test series, starting November 22.

Virat Kohli endured one of the worst phases of his Test career in the lead-up to his 36th birthday. The star batter struggled against spin and managed just 193 runs in six innings in India's humbling 0-3 loss to New Zealand in a home Test series. Kohli was struggling to get going in a series that saw India fail the trial by spin.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, in his birthday message to Virat Kohli, backed the superstar batter to return to peak form sooner than later.

Virat Kohli will be looking to take confidence from his past records in Australia. The star batter has scored 1352 runs, including six hundreds at an average of 54, Down Under.