Virat Kohli has resumed full training as he eyes a return in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning October 19 in Perth, Adelaide, and Sydney. The 36-year-old, who retired from T20Is and Tests earlier this year, was last seen in action during the IPL 2025, where he lifted the trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru after defeating Punjab Kings in the final at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
ODI future under spotlight
Reports recently suggested that Kohli and Rohit Sharma could be nearing the end of their ODI careers, with speculation that the Australia series might be their swansong. According to Dainik Jagran, both veterans may even need to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy if they hope to play the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
Viral images spark fan buzz
Amid swirling rumours, Kohli was spotted training in London. A fan selfie from the indoor nets went viral, showing a smiling Kohli back at work. Just a day earlier, another photo of him sporting a white beard had sparked retirement concerns, but his training video cleared doubts about his intent.
Kohli’s Test exit and ODI dominance
Kohli retired from Test cricket in May 2025, ending a mixed run in the format. Though he scored a century in Perth against Australia, his struggles outside off-stump continued, finishing that series with just 190 runs.
In ODIs, however, Kohli remains unmatched. He holds the record for most centuries in the format, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar during the 2023 World Cup. More recently, he played a key role in India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 triumph under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.
17 years of international cricket
Fittingly, Kohli’s training return coincided with his 17th anniversary in international cricket. He made his debut in 2008 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla and has since built a career that has cemented him as one of the greatest ever in the 50-over format.
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