Virat Kohli’s Test exit: Could it dim Rs13 billion brand Virushka and Anushka Sharma’s stadium buzz?

Dubai: Word on the pitch is that Virat Kohli—King Kohli, or as I call him, cheekbone God—is toying with the idea of retiring from Indian Test cricket. And somewhere in an editorial meeting, an entertainment editor just screamed silently in her head (Guilty as charged).

Because if he steps away from the long game, it’s not just cricket losing its poster boy—it’s the end of a glorious era of slow-mo stares, stadium smoulders, and Anushka Sharma reaction shots.

Seriously, who will we zoom in on now when the camera pans to the VIP box?

Let’s get one thing straight: Virat and Anushka aren’t just a couple. They’re a content goldmine. A publicist’s dream. India’s answer to Beyoncé and Jay Z—or Brad and Angelina before the fall.

For years, they’ve given us everything—mushy Insta captions, designer airport walks, cryptic birthday posts, and enough on-field glances to spawn a thousand reels.

Just last week, a single ‘like’ from Kohli on another Bollywood actress’s photo had fans spiraling into speculation mode: was there trouble in paradise?

Which is why, when Anushka and Virat made a public appearance soon after (Virat claimed it was a technical algorithm glitch—cue eye roll), Twitter went into full-blown detective mode. Did the wife snub his extended hand as they entered a restaurant together?

Sometimes the scrutiny even borders on the absurd. Was she a lucky charm or an unlucky omen when Virat was playing? Did he look up at her mid-century? Was that subtle nod to her—or to his critics?

The drama! The tension! The zoom-in potential! We were living!

But now, with murmurs of retirement, we might be witnessing the end of an era. If he sticks to his stand, it means no more balcony kisses after a Test win. No more decoding Anushka’s every stadium side-eye. And definitely no more WAG fashion columns. And before you ask—yes, they’re absolutely wealthy.

Together, brand Virushka is reportedly worth over Rs13 billion (that’s more than some Bollywood budgets combined). He’s building fitness chains and sneaker empires. She’s acted in films and, until recently, produced edgy OTT content with her brother.

Will stepping away from the red-ball format dent their brand—or only add to their mystique? Time will tell.

Sure, there are other young cricketers like Hardik Pandya who feed the entertainment columns with their fashion statements and Insta antics, but none match the cultural cachet—or the consistent content pipeline—of Virushka.

If Kohli does bow out, Indian cricket may or may not adapt. But the entertainment world? That may suffer a full-blown content recession.

While striking 100 runs in a Test match is a triumph for cricket fans, glamorous power couple gossip is eternal—and infinitely harder to replace.