Virat Kohli’s new white-bearded look sparks retirement speculation

Virat Kohli stuns cricket world with sudden Test retirement after Australia series. Seen sporting white beard in London, the legend hints at needing rest. Will continue in ODIs and IPL, potentially till 2027 WC. Rohit Sharma may follow suit. Fans await Kohli’s return during India’s October ODI tour of Australia.

New Delhi: Virat Kohli, also known as 'King Kohli' and the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, which surprised cricket lovers.

Currently, Kohli is in London on a break from cricket, where a picture of him has gone viral on social media. In this picture, he is seen with a white beard, making him nearly unrecognizable to many fans.

Virat Kohli recently participated in a charity event organized by former cricketer Yuvraj Singh, where he was asked about his Test retirement. Responding in a lighthearted manner, Kohli said, "I colored my beard two days ago. When you have to color your beard every four days, you should understand that it's time to rest." This statement offers a different perspective on his decision.

Why did Virat Kohli retire from Test cricket?

Virat Kohli retired from T20 International cricket in 2024, but the decision was not as shocking at that time, as he was already playing less in this format. But on 12 May 2025, he suddenly also announced his retirement from Test cricket, causing a stir in the cricket world.

This decision was also surprising because a few months ago he had played in the Ranji Trophy and asked for preparations for the tour of England. However, Kohli's performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (2024-25) against Australia was not much. He scored just 190 runs in 5 matches, including a century in the Perth Test.

India lost this series 1-3, and Kohli's form also became a matter of concern. After this, he also played in the Ranji Trophy for Delhi, who felt that he would continue Test cricket now, but he suddenly took retirement.

Will Virat Kohli play in ODI and IPL now?

It is believed that Virat Kohli will continue to play in ODI cricket and IPL. According to reports, he can retire from international cricket completely after the 2027 ODI World Cup. The current ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, of Team India, is also planning to retire after this World Cup. The two giants are expected to return to the Australia tour in October, where India will play three ODIs.