Virat Kohli Visits Vrindavan After Announcing Test Retirement
Kohli's Spiritual Journey Post-Retirement
Vrindavan (Uttar Pradesh) [India] May 13: Following his announcement to retire from Test cricket, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, accompanied by his wife Anushka Sharma, visited Vrindavan on Tuesday.
The couple sought blessings from the revered spiritual leader, Premanand Maharaj, at the Vrindavan Dham. Upon their arrival, Maharaj inquired, "Are you happy?" to which Kohli responded, "I am fine."
Premanand Ji shared insights with the couple, emphasizing that true blessings from the Lord go beyond material wealth. He advised, "When the Lord blesses you, wealth is not the true blessing. The Lord's grace transforms your inner thoughts. Focus on chanting the Lord's name and let go of worries."
This marks the third visit of the couple to Premanand Maharaj's ashram in Vrindavan.
Furthermore, Maharaj suggested that instead of merely chanting the Lord's name, one should devote themselves wholeheartedly to their actions. He stated, "There’s no need to excessively chant 'Radha'; whatever you do, do it with full devotion."
Kohli's retirement from Test cricket concludes a remarkable 14-year journey, during which he excelled in various conditions and against numerous opponents, both as a player and captain.
The decision to retire was communicated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against England.
Throughout his Test career, the 36-year-old participated in 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties across 210 innings, with a personal best of 254*. He ranks as India's fourth-highest run-scorer in Test history, following legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Kohli made his Test debut in June 2011 against the West Indies. Although his initial tour was challenging, with only 76 runs in five innings, he quickly established himself with impressive counter-attacking performances in subsequent matches.