What Happened to Virat Kohli?

Virat Kohli's career has seen a strategic evolution in recent years, transitioning from an all-format captain and player to a specialist in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and the Indian Premier League (IPL). This shift began notably after India's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Kohli played a match-winning innings in the final and subsequently announced his retirement from the T20I format. This decision allowed him to manage his workload and extend his illustrious career. A year later, on May 12, 2025, Kohli further streamlined his international commitments by retiring from Test cricket, concluding a 123-Test career with 9,230 runs and 29 centuries.

The year 2025 proved to be a landmark for Kohli, both personally and professionally. He was instrumental in India's victory at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where he scored a crucial century against arch-rivals Pakistan and a significant fifty against Australia. During this period, he also became the fastest player to reach 14,000 ODI runs. Domestically, 2025 marked a historic achievement as he finally led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their maiden IPL title, ending an 18-year wait for the franchise and himself. This victory was a significant turning point, validating his long-standing commitment to the team.

As of May 2026, Kohli continues to be a central figure in the IPL, leading RCB with exceptional batting performances. He has been a consistent run-scorer in IPL 2026, featuring prominently in the Orange Cap race with a century and multiple half-centuries. On May 13, 2026, he became the most-capped player in IPL history, surpassing MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma with 279 matches. Just days later, on May 17, 2026, he set another record by becoming the first batter in IPL history to score over 5500 runs as an opener for a single franchise. He also holds the unique record of scoring the most runs against a single opponent in IPL history, specifically against Punjab Kings.

Looking ahead, Kohli has expressed a strong desire to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. However, he has made it clear that his continued involvement hinges on feeling valued and not being subjected to constant scrutiny or the need to 'prove his worth' to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or selectors. He has actively prepared for future international assignments, including playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India's domestic List A competition) in late 2025 and early 2026, where he performed strongly. Off the field, Kohli continues to be a global icon with an estimated net worth of around ₹1,100 Crore (~$130 Million) as of May 2026, largely driven by lucrative endorsement deals. He and his wife, Anushka Sharma, welcomed their second child, Akaay, in 2024, and the couple often resides in the UK to maintain a private family life.