The one-day international series between England and India, starting next Tuesday, offers a rare chance to see Virat Kohli bat in England for what is likely the last time. Despite a packed sporting summer, this series is worth the attention as Kohli, one of cricket's all-time greats, returns to the crease.
Kohli's Reduced Schedule and Focus on ODIs
At 37, Kohli remains an active international cricketer and the third most popular athlete globally by Instagram followers, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, he has significantly pared back his commitments, retiring from T20 internationals in 2024 and Test cricket last year. He now focuses on the Indian Premier League, where his Royal Challengers Bengaluru side has won twice in the past two seasons, and the ODI format, where he holds a record 54 centuries.
Life in London: Seeking Sanctuary
Kohli and his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, have relocated their young family to London, seeking relative anonymity compared to the intense scrutiny in India. Yet, even in London, privacy is elusive. Jordan Cox, who made his Test debut for England at the Oval last month, met Kohli at a London cafe. Despite thinking they went unnoticed, paparazzi photos circulated online within hours. Cox recounted, 'The upsetting thing for him is that people are following him without him knowing. Hundreds of people walked past us, no one stopped... But then about two hours later he’s texting me going ‘have you seen all these photos?’. I was like ‘what the hell?’.' Cox added, 'It’s just a shame how many people want a piece of him. He just wants to go under the radar, have fun and live a normal life.'
Training at Lord's and Off-Field Persona
Kohli's move to London and gaps between cricket commitments mean he trains at Lord's, with Marylebone Cricket Club facilitating sessions. His assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, often gives throwdowns. Off the field, Kohli is known for his generosity. Cox noted, 'The thing that I found the most special during the IPL is how much time he gave me as a player and, for someone that’s achieved so much, how much he gives back generally. Some guys focus on their own game but he is someone who always wants to help others before he helps himself. That is very rare.'
Continued Form and Drive
Despite reduced game time, Kohli's output has not suffered. He was RCB's leading scorer during their two IPL title wins, with an improved strike-rate, and has scored three centuries in his past six ODIs. Mo Bobat, RCB's director of cricket, said, 'When he told us he was retiring from Test cricket we talked a bit about how [the gaps between cricket] might affect him. I think he probably took that as a bit of a challenge and wanted to prove us wrong. He prioritises his mental and physical preparation quite a lot now, and he trusts his ability to hit balls. He just keeps getting better, certainly in T20. He’s playing with a consistency and a tempo that he might not have shown in his earlier years.' Bobat added, 'If I’m totally honest, he irritated me when I was with England and we played India because he’d normally score runs or be in the thick of it in pressure moments. He would be in your face and make sure you knew it. But as soon as I got on his side of the fence, those attributes are the things that you love about him.'
Future Prospects: The Hundred and 2027 World Cup
Kohli's net sessions at Lord's have sparked hope he might sign for London Spirit in the Hundred, but this seems unlikely. India's men are barred from overseas franchise leagues unless they retire from Indian cricket, and Kohli is unlikely to give up his reported £1.6m IPL deal. He has also dismissed the 100-ball format as 'an experiment.' The 2027 World Cup is likely his final assignment with India, alongside Rohit Sharma, who also returns next week. The series starts at Edgbaston on Tuesday, moves to Cardiff two days later, and concludes at Lord's on Sunday.
