Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket at 36 came as a shock, but perhaps the most definitive statement came much earlier during an RCB event, when Kohli declared, “Once I’m gone. I’ll be gone. You won’t see me for some time.” That sentiment has now been reinforced by someone who knows him better than most—former India coach Ravi Shastri.
With Kohli now only playing international ODIs, the countdown has unofficially begun. If he does aim for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa, that might well be his final appearance in any cricketing arena. No IPL swansong, no charity matches, no Legends League Cricket.
No second innings in coaching or broadcasting
Ravi Shastri, Kohli’s longtime collaborator during one of India’s most successful overseas periods, believes the Indian star won’t linger in the sport after his final match.
“He is still around to serve Indian cricket in ODIs, but I also know that Virat will walk away from the game once he is done playing cricket. He is not the kind who would like to coach or take on the role of a broadcaster. I will miss him when India plays its first Test in England. He was a champion, and that is what I would like to remember – never conceding an inch,” Shastri wrote in his column for Sportstar.
This is not the path most modern-day cricketers take. From commentary boxes to coaching dugouts, the sport is full of familiar post-retirement faces. But Kohli appears set to break away entirely.
A legacy that could have been even longer
Shastri also admitted he believed Kohli still had fuel left in the tank, particularly in Test cricket, and that India could have benefitted from his experience during the upcoming England series.
“I am sure Virat still had two years of Test cricket left in him. I would have loved to see him in England this summer. It would have been a good idea to hand him the captaincy for the tour, but he would know best why he decided to leave. Maybe mental fatigue drove him to decide because he was as fit as any other player in the team. He knew his body best, but the mind would have played the decisive role. I will not rule out burnout as the decisive factor in curtailing his career at a critical phase of Indian cricket,” Shastri explained.
It’s a nod to the immense pressure Kohli has carried over the years—one of the most scrutinized athletes in world sport, performing under a microscope across three formats and multiple captaincy stints.
Edgbaston to greatness: how Kohli rewrote his own story
Among Kohli’s defining moments, few shine brighter than his Test comeback in England in 2018. Following a disastrous 2014 tour where he managed just 134 runs in five Tests, Kohli transformed his approach and rewrote the narrative.
“Do you remember how he rebuilt himself for England? He must have doubted his credentials after the nightmare tour of 2014 (134 runs in five Tests). Four years later, he returned to conquer. He toyed with the English attack (593 runs in five Tests). On his way to that long-awaited century on English soil, he walked the tightrope between restraint and radiance at Edgbaston. He tamed James Anderson — England’s master of movement — not with swagger, but with patience. It was a masterclass in defensive batting. He assumed the stature of greatness on that tour,” Shastri recalled.
That series wasn’t just about runs. It was about redemption, mental steel, and a renewed presence that elevated Kohli to a new echelon of greatness.
“He rewired how India played cricket”
In terms of legacy, Shastri doesn’t dwell on comparisons. Instead, he sees Kohli as someone who fundamentally reshaped India’s cricketing identity.
“I don’t like comparisons. I’ve been asked about Gavaskar and Tendulkar. I was lucky enough to share the dressing room with them. But I saw Virat from a different vantage — not just from the comfort of the broadcaster’s box, but through the suffocating pressure that only a dressing room can know. I saw him walk out not to play cricket, but to command it. To own the battlefield. In doing so, he didn’t just win games; he rewired how India played cricket,” he wrote.
It’s not just about numbers—though Kohli’s 123 Tests and 9,230 runs place him behind only Tendulkar, Dravid, and Gavaskar in India’s all-time charts. It’s about presence, intensity, and unmatched preparation.
The final act is coming—see it while you can
With only ODI cricket left and the 2027 World Cup as a likely endpoint, Kohli fans worldwide are facing the twilight of an era. As Shastri put it, “For me, Virat will remain the most influential cricketer of the last decade. He had fans worldwide, especially those who turned up at Test matches to watch him bat like no one else. A batsman who could hit a boundary at will and someone who would pick the best bowler in the opposition camp to send a strong message. Undoubtedly the most scrutinised batsman in world cricket, he was also the best prepared to fight in the middle. His making people watch Test cricket will be an enduring legacy. The team will forever miss his wild celebrations at the fall of a wicket and the joy he expressed at a partner’s batting feat.”
So if you’ve never seen him live, now’s the time. Because once Virat Kohli is gone—he’ll be gone.
