‘You know it’s time…’: Virat Kohli breaks silence on stepping away from Test cricket

Two months after shocking the cricketing world with his Test retirement, Virat Kohli has finally spoken about the decision that left millions of fans heartbroken. 

At a charity event hosted by Yuvraj Singh in London for the YouWeCan Foundation, Kohli opened up with his trademark humour and heartfelt honesty.

In a light-hearted moment on stage with cricket legends Yuvraj Singh, Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, and Darren Gough, Kohli referenced his greying beard as a metaphor for moving on. “I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it’s time when you’re colouring your beard every four days,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.

The event marked Kohli’s first public comments since his Instagram post on May 12, where he penned an emotional farewell to Test cricket writing “As I step away from this format, it’s not easy but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for.”

A Glorious Test Legacy

Kohli bows out with a glittering Test career, 123 matches, 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, 30 centuries, 7 double hundreds (an Indian record), and a highest score of 254. He redefined India’s overseas dominance, becoming the first Indian captain to win a Test series in Australia in 2018–19.

Passing the Baton

Interestingly, Kohli’s retirement came just five days after Rohit Sharma stepped away from red-ball cricket. Congratulating Shubman Gill on his record-breaking 269 against England, Kohli called him India’s new “star boy” and wished him success as the next Test captain.

Cherished Bond with Yuvi

Kohli also reflected on his enduring bond with Yuvraj Singh, recalling their early days and Yuvraj’s courageous comeback from cancer. “He, Bhajju pa (Harbhajan Singh, and Zak (Zaheer Khan) took me under their wings when I started. We shared many fun times, and his fight against cancer was inspiring. To see him come back and play when I was captain was special,” Kohli said.

End of an Era

As Kohli steps away from Test cricket, fans are left with memories of his passion, grit, and countless match-winning knocks. While his bat may have fallen silent in whites, his impact on the game will resonate for generations.