Virat Kohli has made it clear that he has no plans to retire anytime soon and will continue to represent India in international cricket. His statement came shortly after Rohit Sharma’s squad secured a thrilling victory against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy 2025 final, clinching the title by four wickets. Although the former India captain wasn’t directly questioned about retirement, he took the opportunity to address the speculation about his future.
In a post-match interview with Simon Doull, Kohli emphasized that he would consider stepping away only when he believed the team was fully prepared to sustain its winning momentum without him. Former New Zealand fast bowler Doull prefaced the discussion by stating that whenever Kohli decides to retire, he will leave the team in capable hands.
Kohli acknowledged this sentiment, stating that he frequently shares his knowledge and experience with younger players, hoping to strengthen their skills and mindset. His goal, he added, is to ensure that when senior players move on, the team is in an even better position than before. He expressed confidence in the emerging talents like Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, all of whom have already delivered match-winning performances.
Reflecting on India’s performance, Kohli admitted that the team was determined to recover from their disappointing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series loss against Australia, where they fell 1-3. He acknowledged his personal struggles during that series but emphasized that winning a major tournament like the Champions Trophy was the perfect way to regain momentum.
Kohli had a solid campaign in the Champions Trophy, scoring 218 runs in five matches, including a century and a half-century. However, he was unable to make an impact in the final, getting dismissed for just one run. Despite this, he credited the team’s collective effort for their success, highlighting the key contributions made by different players throughout the tournament.
For Kohli, the essence of winning titles lies in teamwork. He praised the squad for stepping up in crucial moments, executing game-changing performances with both bat and ball. The star batter concluded by expressing his joy in playing alongside such a talented group, confident that Indian cricket is on the right path for future success.
