"When you find yourself doing that every four days, you know it’s time”: Virat Kohli on test retirement

Virat Kohli may have bid goodbye to Test cricket nearly two months ago, but fans were still waiting for the maestro to speak openly about his emotional decision. That moment finally came recently in London, where the former India captain made a rare public appearance alongside his wife and actor Anushka Sharma at a charity event hosted by Yuvraj Singh.

Kohli, who’s been spotted soaking in the Wimbledon vibes and enjoying some much-deserved downtime, took the stage with cricketing greats like Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Shastri, and more. When Gaurav Kapur nudged him to speak about stepping away from red-ball cricket, Kohli responded with wit and a touch of emotion.

“I coloured my beard two days ago. And when you find yourself doing that every four days, you know it’s time,” he joked, leaving the audience both laughing and teary-eyed. It was a light-hearted yet symbolic moment that gave fans a glimpse into the mindset behind his farewell.

Kohli had officially announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 through a heartfelt Instagram post, calling it a bittersweet yet “right” decision. “I’ve given it everything I had,” he wrote, “and it’s given me back so much more.”

Now living more privately in London, Kohli has been keeping a low profile, away from cricket commentary and analysis. However, he broke his silence recently to congratulate new India Test skipper Shubman Gill on his stellar 269-run innings against England. It was a graceful passing of the baton from one generation-defining player to another.

Over a glorious red-ball career that spanned 123 Tests, Kohli amassed 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries, 31 fifties, and a remarkable 7 double hundreds. While cricket will miss Kohli in whites, it seems the star is embracing a new chapter with quiet pride, strong coffee, and perhaps a few more trips to Wimbledon with Anushka.