Kohli Jokes About Cricket Retirement in London

Virat Kohli recently added a touch of humor to a discussion about his Test cricket retirement at Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan cancer fundraiser in London. Residing in London, Kohli made a stylish appearance at the event, shortly after being seen at Wimbledon dressed in a sleek brown suit. Amid a gathering that included the Indian cricket team, event host Gaurav Kapur acknowledged Kohli's absence from the squad, following his retirement announcement before the England tour. “We miss you on the field man,” Kapur remarked, prompting a lighthearted response from Kohli. Standing alongside cricket legends Ravi Shastri, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, and Yuvraj Singh, Kohli quipped, “I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days. It's time to relax." During the fundraiser, Kohli also opened up about his significant partnership with former head coach Ravi Shastri, crediting him for India's remarkable achievements in Test cricket under his captaincy. “Honestly, if I wasn't working with him, what happened in Test cricket wouldn't have been possible," Kohli stated, emphasizing the clarity and support he received from Shastri. Recalling Shastri's unwavering defense in press conferences, Kohli expressed gratitude, acknowledging the coach’s crucial role in his cricketing journey. In return, Shastri praised Kohli as the most influential cricketer of the past 15 years. He admired Kohli’s ambition to elevate India's Test cricket, a vision that led to significant advancements for the team. Shastri highlighted the economic impact of India’s Test success, attributing increased revenues and global recognition to Kohli's leadership. "If India is playing a level of Test match cricket today, especially the younger generation that played under him, they should thank him," Shastri noted, underscoring Kohli’s transformative influence in international cricket.