Virat Kohli Opens Up About Test Retirement: “When You Have to Colour Your Beard Every Four Days, It’s Time…”
For the first time since announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli spoke openly about the decision. At a London event, Kohli cited age as a major factor behind stepping away from the longest format.
The 36-year-old had announced his retirement from Test cricket via a social media post on May 12, 2025.
“I Colour My Beard Every Four Days” – Kohli’s Lighthearted Take on Ageing
During a dinner party organized by Yuvraj Singh’s YouWeCan Foundation, Kohli joined several prominent figures from around the world. When TV presenter Gaurav Kapur mentioned how fans miss seeing Kohli on the field, Virat laughed and said:
“I coloured my beard two days ago. When you have to colour it every four days, that’s when you know — the time (to retire) has come.”
Kohli’s Test Career: A Glorious Journey
- Matches Played: 123 Tests (210 innings)
- Runs Scored: 9,230
- Batting Average: 46.85
- Centuries/Half-Centuries: 30/31
- Tests as Captain: 68
- Wins as Captain: 40
- Winning Percentage: 58.82% (3rd best among captains with 50+ Tests)
Dominance at Home: Better Record Than Dhoni & Rohit
Despite never winning an ICC tournament as Test captain, Kohli outshines MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in red-ball leadership:
- Kohli won all 11 home Test series as captain.
- Under Dhoni and Rohit, India lost at least one home Test series.
- Kohli’s leadership debut came in 2015 against South Africa, where India won the 4-match series 3-0.
Retired from T20s After World Cup Win, Continues in ODIs & IPL
After helping India win the 2024 T20 World Cup, Kohli retired from T20 Internationals on June 29, 2024. He continues to play:
- ODI cricket for India
- IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who won their first IPL title this year
- Kohli has been part of RCB since its inception in 2008
Kohli & Anushka Attend Wimbledon, Watch Djokovic Match
Currently in London, Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma were spotted watching Novak Djokovic’s match at Wimbledon. Other cricket stars, including Joe Root and Rishabh Pant, also attended. Pant came after India’s win in the Birmingham Test.
