You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days, Virat Kohli says on his Test retirement

Indian star cricketer was speaking at a charity event in London hosted by Yuvraj Singh

Last updated: July 09, 2025 | 13:48

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

2 MIN READ

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli gestures during the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 final cricket match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on June 3, 2025.

AFP-ARUN SANKAR

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli had remained silent about his sudden retirement from Test cricket — until a recent charity event in London hosted by former teammate Yuvraj Singh, where he addressed the topic with a delightful sense of humor that had the audience roaring with laughter.

During a warm and lively interaction on a stage shared with cricket legends like Yuvraj, Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen, Chris Gayle, and Darren Gough, Kohli was asked about his retirement. With a cheeky grin, he joked, “I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it’s time to retire when you have to colour your beard every four days,” sparking hearty laughter among the crowd and fellow cricketers.

Kohli, 36, had announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 with an emotional Instagram post, bringing an end to a remarkable 15-year career in the longest format. “As I step away from this format, it’s not easy—but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could have hoped for,” he wrote.

A towering figure in Indian cricket, Kohli’s Test career statistics are extraordinary: 123 matches, 9,230 runs from 210 innings at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries, 31 half-centuries, and a record seven double centuries — the most by any Indian batsman. His highest Test score remains an unbeaten 254. Kohli’s aggressive captaincy played a pivotal role in some of India’s most iconic overseas victories, notably the historic 2018–19 series win in Australia.

Kohli’s decision to retire came just days after Rohit Sharma stepped down from red-ball cricket. Since then, Kohli had kept a low profile on cricketing matters—until this engaging appearance.

At the event, he also praised India’s new Test captain, Shubman Gill, for his record-breaking 269-run innings against England. Calling Gill a “star boy,” Kohli expressed pride in India’s 336-run victory that leveled the five-match series.

Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.