From Stadium Roars To Café Whispers: Virat Kohli's Life After The Spotlight

Mumbai: Once the beating heart of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli now walks the shaded streets of Notting Hill in quiet anonymity, a world away from the roaring crowds and flashing cameras that once defined his life. These days, the only buzz around Kohli is a whispered recognition in a London café or the rare, viral fan photo snapped on the Underground—yes, the man once mobbed at airports now rides the Tube, newspaper in hand.

Kohli’s retreat into this quiet life seems both intentional and overdue. After nearly two decades of relentless scrutiny as India’s batting talisman and captain, he has chosen peace over applause. With wife Anushka Sharma and their two children, the family has carved out a sanctuary in one of London’s most elegant but discreet neighbourhoods. Here, they are not celebrities, but parents, partners, and neighbours—living a life that, in India, would be almost impossible.

As India begins a high-octane five-Test series against England, Kohli’s absence looms larger than ever. Two of his contemporaries, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, have retired. But Kohli—despite still playing ODIs—feels more distant. He is physically close, based just a short drive from Lord’s, but emotionally removed. No press appearances, no expert panels, not even a seat in the VIP box. Unlike Sachin Tendulkar, who was spotted soaking in the cricket at Lord’s, Kohli gave both the World Test Championship final and the MCC’s “World Cricket Connects” symposium a miss. Instead, his moments with cricket now play out in private. Just before the first Test, he hosted Team India’s new captain, Shubman Gill, and vice-captain Rishabh Pant for a quiet dinner at home.

It was a gesture steeped in warmth and mentorship—but also a sign of how Kohli now chooses to engage with the game: on his terms, from the sidelines. There were even whispers that Middlesex County had reached out to him, eager for a swansong stint at Lord’s. But the response was silence. Kohli, it appears, has no desire to chase twilight glory. It’s a curious paradox. Here is a man who once chased records with a ferocity unmatched in world cricket, now choosing stillness.

A man who wore his aggression on his sleeve, now content to blend into a crowd. Yet, in this withdrawal, there’s a quiet defiance. Kohli isn’t running away—he’s choosing what matters most: family, space, balance. Anushka, too, has leaned into this low-profile existence. The power couple that once defined celebrity culture in India now finds joy in the mundane. School runs, park strolls, and weekend brunches in quaint London spots. In a city known for its indifference to fame, they are finally allowed to just be.

Kohli’s fans continue to yearn for a glimpse, a return, a moment of magic. And he will deliver that, perhaps in August, when he’s expected to don the Indian jersey again for the ODI series in Bangladesh. But for now, he remains a ghost at the edge of the boundary—close, yet untouchable. In many ways, this is a second innings unlike any other. Kohli’s legacy was built in the furnace of expectation. Now, far from the stadiums that made him, he is redefining greatness—on quieter, more personal terms. And in doing so, he may have just scored his most meaningful century yet.

Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025, 01:56 PM IST