Mumbai: Virat Kohli retired from T20 Internationals, along with Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, after Team India lifted the World Cup beating South Africa at Bridgetown, Barbados, on June 29, 2024.
The batting star, who played a role in India’s recent Champions Trophy triumph, has said he could consider coming out of T20I retirement. It’s conditional, for one match — provided Team India reach the final of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics men’s cricket event.
Asked on the sidelines of Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit whether he can come out of T20I retirement for the Olympics, Virat quipped: “For Olympics? No (laughs)… If we are playing for a gold medal, I just might sneak in for one game, win a medal, and then return home.”
Cricket will be returning to the Olympics after a gap of 128 years, and like any other sportsperson, it “would be magnificent” for cricketers to be on the podium of the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza, reported NDTV.
That is obviously an unrealistic wish. The Los Angeles Olympics will be held from July 14-30, 2028, when Kohli will be four months shy of turning 40, and Rohit will be 41.
Having veterans like Virat and Rohit in the team for just one game, that too in the event of India progressing that far, is beyond the realms of possibility.
Kohli joined the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad on Saturday.
In a video shared by the franchise on social media, Kohli is seen posing in an RCB jersey. “The King is here and like always, he’s 2 steps (sometimes a LOT more) ahead of everyone,” the caption says.
The King is here and like always, he’s 2 steps (sometimes a LOT more) ahead of everyone. 😮💨
D̶o̶n̶ Virat ko pakadna mushkil hi nahi… you know the rest 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/sBxCa3qQco
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2025
In another video, Kohli is seen congratulating new RCB captain Rajat Patidar.
“Myself and the other team members will be right behind you, Rajat. The way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you’ve made a place in the hearts of all RCB fans. This is very well deserved,” Virat says.
𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬! 💌
“Myself and the other team members will be right behind you, Rajat”: Virat Kohli
“The way you have grown in this franchise and the way you have performed, you’ve made a place in the hearts of all RCB fans. This is very well deserved.”… pic.twitter.com/dgjDLm8ZCN
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) February 13, 2025
