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Virat Kohli leaves fans anxious with his new look amid ODI retirement speculations

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli clicked in London recently (Photo - Shash Kiran/X)

When Virat Kohli pointed to his grey beard as a reason for his seemingly early Test retirement, it came across as an odd excuse. A young Kohli had marked 10,000 Test runs as a key milestone he wanted to reach. The batsman went on to dominate the format, bringing laurels to India in his Test captaincy era, and charging up very close to achieving his goal. However, a slump in his form while he stood on the verge of attaining the record witnessed Kohli bowing out of the chase. Now, Kohli, who had joked about coloring his beard, has been seen in a 'grey' avatar in his latest appearance, and fans are worried, taking it as another ominous sign.

Virat Kohli worries fans with his 'grey' look amid uncertainty over 2027 ICC ODI World Cup spot

A few days ago, reports emerged suggesting a shadow of doubt over the future of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in ODI cricket. The seniors announced their T20I retirement after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024. Not even a year later from the happy exit, the captain and the former skipper stepped out of the longer format as well. Struggling with their forms in red-ball cricket, Rohit and Kohli announced their Test retirements earlier in May this year, ahead of the new WTC Cycle.

The decision was the ultimate shocker for the cricket fans and fraternity. The slump in form witnessed mainly during the Border Gavaskar Trophy was not the first battle for Kohli in the longer format. However, prior to this, the former Indian captain had always come out of it to reiterate his brilliance in the format that he holds in the highest regard. The seasoned batter joined the Ranji Trophy after the BGT setback, a move that signalled his plans to make a comeback in the India vs England series.

However, every sign and hope for the King to announce his dominance again was quashed during IPL 2025. Leaving his cherished aim of completing 10,000 Test runs, Kohli bowed out just 730 runs short of reaching the mark. In a heartfelt post, Kohli deemed the time to be right for his exit from the format as he signed off. Meanwhile, days later, Virat Kohli, when asked about his decision, deflected the question with a unique take. The veteran pointed to his greying beard as he explained that the signs were enough for him to take the next step.

"I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days," Kohli had said during an event in London.

After their T20I and Test retirements, Kohli and Rohit now remain active only in the 50-over format. Meanwhile, as fans wait with bated breath for India's next ODI series just to see their favourites in action again, a report has fuelled tensions. With the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup in view, the BCCI is likely to hold a discussion with the seniors. The ODI schedule for India leading up to the World Cup is sporadic. Moreover, both Rohit and Kohli will be pushing 40 by the time the marquee event sets in motion in South Africa. The scattered fixtures and the age factor have left the board uncertain about the seniors' fitness and rhythm for the ODI World Cup.

While the decision to retire will be theirs solely, the uncertainty over getting a chance to participate in the 2027 tournament can lead the stars towards that conclusion. Meanwhile, as Indian fans brace up for impact, which is still just speculation at this point, Kohli's new look has pushed them to the edge. In a new photo which is going viral on social media, Virat Kohli can be seen sporting a grey beard. Making a connection with his comments on Test retirement, netizens have grown anxious over whether it's a sign of the former Indian captain departing from yet another format.

Meanwhile, the timeline for the return of Kohli and Rohit to the field is yet undecided. The next assignment in the India cricket schedule is the Asia Cup 2025. Earlier, it was reported that an India vs Sri Lanka white-ball series could be scheduled in August, ahead of the ACC event, setting the date for the seniors' much-awaited appearance. However, the latest update on the bilateral suggests that the BCCI has rejected the Sri Lanka tour, pushing their return to a further date.

Author Ayushi Singh
Ayushi Singh

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