London, July 9, 2025 — For the first time since stepping away from Test cricket, Virat Kohli publicly shared insights into his decision — at a star-studded charity event in London hosted by Yuvraj Singh on behalf of the YouWeCan Foundation. Kohli, speaking July 8, acknowledged age and humorously cited frequent beard dyeing as the catalyst: “I just coloured my beard two days ago… you know it’s time when you are colouring your beard every four days”.
Kohli had surprised fans with his May 12 announcement, declaring his retirement ahead of the England Test series, despite remaining athletically prime. His comments at the gala came when host Gaurav Kapur invited him onstage alongside cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, Ravi Shastri, and Yuvraj Singh.
Beyond the humor, Kohli offered heartfelt reflections on his deep bond with Yuvraj Singh. He recounted early days in the Indian dressing room, where Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan mentored the young batsman. “We shared a very good bond both on and off the field… they took me under their wings and made me comfortable”
He spoke admiringly of Yuvraj’s remarkable return from cancer. “Watching him play again — that felt like childhood days… I have a lot of love and respect for him,” Kohli said. He revisited memories from the 2017 home series, recalling Yuvraj’s majestic 150 against England in Cuttack paired with MS Dhoni’s century.
In his retirement announcement, Kohli highlighted gratitude, saying he’d given his all to Test cricket and would look back on his journey “with a smile.” His Test career includes 123 matches, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and a record-setting seven double hundreds and first Test series win in Australia as captain.
Since retiring, Kohli has maintained a low profile while residing in London. Meanwhile, the Indian Test team, under new captain Shubman Gill, secured a historic first win at Edgbaston — an encouraging development in India’s red-ball revival .
Kohli’s public appearance and emotional reflections also offered another glimpse into his deep affection for the game’s camaraderie. He concluded by stating, “I wouldn’t come to an event like this for anyone else,” underscoring the respect he holds for Yuvraj and the collective memories shared
