May 13, 2025: Cricketing legend Virat Kohli and actress Anushka Sharma returned to Mumbai on Tuesday evening after seeking blessings at Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan. The couple was greeted by a swarm of paparazzi at the airport, and Kohli found himself at the center of an emotional fan interaction just a day after announcing his retirement from Test cricket.
As the star batter exited the terminal, a cameraperson voiced what many fans felt:
“Kohli sir, aapne galat kiya. Aapne retirement kyu liya, ab hum cricket nahi dekhenge” (Kohli sir, you made a mistake. Why did you retire? We won’t watch cricket anymore).
Another paparazzo showed support for Kohli’s IPL team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), saying,
“Wait karenge aapka, bas ab ODIs dekhenge. Is baar RCB jeetega” (We’ll wait for you in the ODIs. This time, RCB will win).
Kohli acknowledged the comments with a polite smile and a thumbs-up.
Kohli’s Emotional Farewell to Test Cricket
On Monday, the 35-year-old announced his retirement from Test cricket via Instagram, closing a remarkable 14-year red-ball journey. “It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket… I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more,” Kohli wrote. “I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude.” Kohli ends his Test career with 123 matches, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and 31 fifties — a record that places him among the greatest Test batsmen India has ever produced.
Highlights of Kohli’s Test Career
- At Home: 55 Tests, 4,336 runs, 14 centuries
- Top Home Score: 254* vs South Africa (Pune, 2019)
- Versus Australia: 2,232 runs in 30 matches, 9 centuries
- In Australia: 1,542 runs in 18 Tests, 7 centuries (Top score: 169)
- Against England: 1,991 runs in 28 Tests, 5 centuries
- In England: 1,096 runs in 17 matches, 2 centuries (Top score: 149 at Edgbaston)
Kohli’s fierce intensity, adaptability across conditions, and insatiable hunger for runs made him a cornerstone of India’s Test team. His influence extended beyond numbers — he redefined fitness standards, led India to historic overseas wins, and brought a sense of aggression that inspired a new generation.
Though his whites are now hung up, fans worldwide will look forward to seeing Kohli in the limited-overs formats and the IPL, where his passion continues to burn bright.