Virat Kohli Steps Away From Test Cricket and Turns to Spiritual Guidance
Big names often find themselves looking for meaning after career milestones, but what does India’s cricket legend do when he hangs up his Test jersey? Virat Kohli, less than 24 hours after announcing his shocking Test retirement, was spotted alongside wife Anushka Sharma at the Vrindavan ashram of Premanand Ji Maharaj. The timing couldn’t have been more poignant—this wasn’t just any routine visit; it was a moment of seeking perspective after one of the sport’s most unexpected farewells.
On May 13, 2025, the couple arrived quietly at Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj near Varah Ghat. No starry airs—just simple clothes and folded hands as they sat cross-legged before the respected Maharaj Ji. The air hummed with curiosity from the followers nearby: what brings a cricket icon here, right after stepping away at the height of his power?
A Conversation Beyond Cricket
Their exchange, caught on video and soon viral across social feeds, wasn’t just celebrity small talk. Premanand Ji Maharaj opened with the gentle, disarming question, “Prasann ho?” (Are you happy?). Virat Kohli's response gave away more than just words: “Abhi thik hain,” (I'm okay now). The emotion was palpable—more relief than celebration perhaps, a rare moment of vulnerability from a sportsman known for his confidence.
Anushka, as always, looked for answers at a deeper level. Her question, “Jap se ho jayega?” (Will chanting resolve this?), pushed the conversation into pure spiritual territory. Maharaj Ji’s encouragement sparked a sense of comfort as the couple listened intently. For Kohli, a man whose life has been about discipline, performance, and public scrutiny, this pause seemed necessary—a way to reset amid swirling emotions of retirement and personal change.
This wasn’t their first trip to seek his counsel. Both had met Maharaj Ji twice before—January 2023 and again in January 2025—choices that hint at an ongoing need for grounding and mental clarity amid life’s relentless pace. Each visit coincided with key moments: after international cricket comebacks, business ventures, personal milestones. There’s clearly a pattern here.
Fans got a peek behind the curtain with videos showing Virat and Anushka arriving by car and offering their respects. Neither tried to dodge cameras. Instead, their humility stood out, especially as they knelt side by side, immersed in the ashram’s serene atmosphere.
The cricket world is still digesting the end of Kohli’s Test era. He leaves behind more than 9,000 runs, 30 centuries, and a series win in Australia under his captaincy, cementing his place in Indian sporting history. Fitness experts and former players all thought he had a few more years left. But for Kohli, it seems there’s more to life than chasing records—the search for mental peace and spiritual meaning may be his new innings.
After seeking blessings, the couple made a quiet return to Mumbai, leaving behind a trail of viral moments and sparking conversations well beyond the boundary lines. Whether this signals a permanent turn toward spirituality, or just a much-needed break, one thing is clear: Virat’s latest decision isn’t just about cricket statistics—it’s a journey inward.
