Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh) [India] : A day after officially announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli visited Vrindavan along with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, on Tuesday. The couple paid a visit to renowned spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj at Vrindavan Dham to seek his blessings.
Known for their spiritual inclinations, Kohli and Anushka have been seen visiting Vrindavan and meeting Swami Premanand Maharaj on several occasions in the past.
Kohli’s decision to step away from Test cricket marks the end of a stellar 14-year career in the format, during which he established himself as one of the greatest batters and leaders in Indian cricket history.
The 36-year-old played 123 Tests, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with a career-best score of 254 not out. He finishes as India’s fourth-highest run scorer in Tests, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921), Rahul Dravid (13,265), and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122).
Kohli made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies. Despite a modest start, with just 76 runs in his first five innings, he quickly made his mark with a gritty maiden century against Australia at Adelaide in 2012, scoring 116 runs.
His peak years came between 2016 and 2019, a phase considered one of the most dominant in modern Test cricket. During this period, he scored 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at a staggering average of 66.79, which included 16 centuries and seven double tons—the most by any Test captain in cricket history.
However, the 2020s saw a dip in form. Over 39 Tests, he managed 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, with only three centuries and nine fifties. A resurgence came in 2023, where Kohli posted 671 runs in eight Tests at an average of 55.91, including two centuries.
As fans and the cricketing fraternity bid farewell to Kohli’s illustrious Test journey, his visit to Vrindavan reflects a personal moment of reflection and spiritual grounding during this transitional phase in his career.