'I might not have another Australia tour in me': Virat Kohli opens up about his post-retirement plans

Virat Kohli (Pic credit: RCB)

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NEW DELHI: Star Indian batter Virat Kohli dropped a major hint about his cricketing future on Saturday, admitting that he "might not have another Australia tour in him." Kohli made the candid revelation while speaking at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Innovation Lab after arriving in Bengaluru ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.Reflecting on his recent struggles on Australian soil, Kohli stated, "I might not have another Australia tour in me, so I am at peace with whatever happened in the past." The statement has sparked speculation among fans about whether the cricketing icon is considering stepping away from Test cricket in the near future.Despite the speculation, Kohli clarified that he is not mulling retirement at the moment, emphasising that he still loves playing the game. "Don't get nervous. I'm not making any announcements. As of now, everything is fine. I still love playing the game," he reassured his fans. The prolific batter added that he no longer aspires to achieve milestones, instead focusing on playing for the "pure joy" of the sport."It pretty much comes down to just the pure joy, enjoyment, competitive streak, and love for the game. And as long as that is there, I will continue to play. As I said today, I am not playing for any achievement," Kohli said.Kohli also shared insights into the challenges of finding the right moment to retire, recalling a conversation with former Indian captain Rahul Dravid. "The competitive streak doesn't allow you to find the answer [for retirement]. I had a very interesting conversation with Rahul Dravid. He said you always have to stay in touch with yourself. Figure out where you are placed in your life, and the answer is not that easy," he explained.The 36-year-old acknowledged that advancing age has made it tougher to maintain peak performance. "Now, it takes much more effort as people who have played the game for a long period of time understand. You can't do so many things in your mid to late 30s that you can in your mid-20s. I'm at a bit of a different place in my life as well," Kohli admitted.Despite recent struggles, including a lackluster performance on the most recent Australia tour, Kohli has come to terms with his ups and downs. "You have to make peace with whatever's happened in your life. Like in 2014 [against England], I still had the chance to go in 2018 and do what I did. It might not have been the case this time," he said.Kohli also touched on his mental approach to failure, emphasising the importance of blocking out external pressure. "Once you start thinking of the disappointment from the outside, then you start burdening yourself way more. That’s something I've surely experienced in Australia as well," he noted.Beyond his own future, Kohli expressed his optimism about Indian cricket and the evolving landscape of women's sports, particularly the Women’s Premier League ( WPL ). He also looked forward to cricket being part of the 2028 Olympics, expressing hope for India to secure a medal.The RCB icon, who remains the highest run-scorer in IPL history with 8,004 runs in 252 matches, is set to join the RCB camp shortly as the team prepares for the new season under new captain Rajat Patidar.

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