As India prepares for a high-stakes five-Test series against England, all eyes are not just on the new squad—but also on who isn’t there. The absence of Virat Kohli, now retired from Test cricket, looms large over the series. Kohli shocked the cricketing world in May 2025 when he announced his retirement from the longest format, just ahead of the England tour squad announcement. After a glittering 14-year red-ball career, the timing caught many off guard.
His decision followed a challenging 2024–25 season, where he scored just one century in ten Tests—well below his usual benchmark. Cricket legends like Adam Gilchrist and Geoffrey Boycott have praised Kohli’s self-awareness, suggesting his move was driven by both form and the accumulated toll of years at the top level.
Now residing in London’s Notting Hill with his wife Anushka Sharma and their two children, Kohli has embraced a lifestyle that contrasts sharply with his former stardom. The UK capital offers the privacy and freedom he lacked in India—where he is now occasionally spotted at a quiet café or even taking the tube, scenes once unthinkable for the Indian icon. This retreat from public life appears intentional, designed to give his family a more grounded existence away from the spotlight.
Despite stepping away from Test cricket, Kohli remains emotionally connected to Team India. Just before the first Test, he hosted players including new captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Rishabh Pant at his London home, a warm gesture reflecting his enduring bond with the squad. Yet, according to sources, Kohli has no plans to attend any of the matches—preferring to stay out of the limelight and maintain a respectful distance.
Kohli is expected to don the India jersey again in August, when he returns for the ODI tour of Bangladesh—the only international format he now participates in. Until then, the legend remains physically close to the team in London, yet emotionally and professionally detached, symbolizing a new chapter that balances legacy, family, and selective engagement with the game he once ruled.