For the first time since his shock Test retirement, Virat Kohli has publicly addressed the subject. The former India captain was speaking at a charity event hosted by Yuvraj Singh’s foundation, YouWeCan. The star-studded gathering featured cricket icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, Brian Lara, and Gautam Gambhir.
Invited on stage by host Gaurav Kapoor, Kohli was urged to speak about his absence from the longest format. With his trademark wit, Kohli replied, “I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it’s time when you are colouring your beard every four days.”
Kohli reserved special praise for former head coach Ravi Shastri. Their partnership is widely credited for India’s success in Test cricket during Kohli’s captaincy.
“Honestly, if I wasn’t working with him, what happened in Test cricket wouldn’t have been possible,” said Kohli. “The clarity we had was rare. He took bullets for me in press conferences. That kind of backing shapes careers. I will always respect him for that.”
Kohli also reflected on his early days with the Indian team. He fondly remembered his camaraderie with Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan.
“They took me under their wings. Made me comfortable. We had a lot of fun off the field too,” he recalled. “These are bonds I will cherish forever.”
Kohli also opened up about Yuvraj’s battle with cancer. “What he did after the 2011 World Cup… we had no idea what he was going through. Then the fight, the comeback… that’s a true champion.”
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Kohli couldn’t forget one standout moment. “In 2017 against England in Cuttack, Yuvi pa scored 150 and MS scored over 100. I told KL this is like childhood, watching them on the big screen again. That day is etched in my heart.”
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