Find out Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s latest passion

Dubai: Virat Kohli may have stepped away from Test cricket, but he’s not done competing just yet. The former India captain recently swapped his whites for athleisure as he joined his Bollywood actress wife Anushka Sharma for a spirited game of pickleball at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp — and the chemistry was hard to miss.

Taking a breather from the intensity of the Indian Premier League, Kohli and Anushka were seen enjoying some downtime ahead of Bengaluru’s playoff clash. The franchise’s social media team shared clips of the couple on Wednesday, giving fans a rare glimpse of their off-field bonding.

High-fives, rallies, and some light banter made the session a crowd-pleaser — especially when Anushka playfully pointed out one of Kohli’s errant shots, telling him to “keep it inside the court,” leaving the star batter grinning and scratching his head.

The light-hearted exchange wasn’t just about fun — it reflected the relaxed mood in the RCB camp after securing a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs. Several players joined the pickleball session as a way to stay fresh before the big game. Among them were veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik and his wife Dipika Pallikal, a professional squash player, who brought her sporting flair to the court.

Also spotted in action was RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, rounding off a star-studded pickleball squad that seemed to thrive on camaraderie and light competition.

The relaxed scenes came just days after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket. In a heartfelt Instagram post last week, the 36-year-old reflected on his 14-year journey in the whites:

“It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life… I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile.”

Having scored over 9,000 runs in the longest format, Kohli leaves behind a legacy defined by intensity, resilience, and unmatched passion — qualities that continue to shine even in a casual game of pickleball.

While the format may have changed, Kohli’s competitive spirit clearly hasn’t. His ease on court and his ability to switch off — even momentarily — could be the refresh RCB needs as they gear up for the IPL playoffs. With momentum on their side and their talisman in good spirits, Bengaluru will be hoping their off-field harmony translates into on-field success.