Virat Kohli addressed his retirement publicly during a star-studded charity event hosted by Yuvraj Singh for the 'YouWeCan' cancer foundation in London on July 8, 2025. The gathering, held in support of the YouWeCan Foundation, saw a glittering lineup of cricket legends and current stars, including members of the Indian national team.
Virat Kohli on his decision to retire from Test cricket
Kohli, who had remained tight-lipped since announcing his Test retirement nearly two months ago, finally broke his silence with a touch of humour. He said,"I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days," he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
At the London event, Kohli was in high spirits, mingling freely with old friends and familiar faces from the cricketing world, including former rivals like Pietersen.
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During the vent Kohli also reflected on bond with Yuvraj Singh and particularly his heroic 2011 World Cup performance and subsequent battle with cancer.
He said, "We shared a very good bond both on and off the field. I met him for the first time during a North Zone tournament in Bangalore. When I started playing for India, him, Bhajju pa and Zaheer Khan took me under their wings. They really helped me grow as a player and made me comfortable in the dressing room. A lot of fun times off the field and made me aware of the lifestyle of getting to the top. These are the bonds I will cherish for the rest of my life,"
Kohli added, "Watching him in the World Cup was very special and what we got to know after that was a shock. Being so close to him... we had no idea. Then his battle with cancer and again the champion that he is... coming on top and making a comeback to the team when I was leading the team,"
