Virat Kohli Teases Cricket Comeback, Dispels Retirement Rumors After White Beard Photo Causes Stir

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has shared the first hints of his return to the game after his ‘white-beard’ photo stirred talks of retirement. On August 08, 2025, a picture of Kohli, showcasing a heavily grey beard, sparked fear amongst fans who feared that his retirement from One-Day International (ODI) cricket was imminent. However, through a simple act on social media, he quashed such concerns and signaled a return to cricket.

An Instagram post featured Kohli with the assistant coach Naeem Amin of the Gujarat Titans at what appears to be an indoor cricket training facility. The photo suggests that Kohli might have resumed practice since his last participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 and is preparing for a comeback in October.

Kohli’s stint with cricket has been under speculation as he quietly retired from T20Is after India’s win at the World Cup in West Indies and unexpectedly from Test cricket on May 12, 2024. He previously disclosed that participating in the 2027 World Cup in South Africa was his next big goal. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will make a decision about Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future participation as both would be nearing their 40s by then.

Naeem Amin, who has been with the Gujarat Titans since 2022, is an experienced coach who served as the head of the Mighty Willow Academy and the national coach of Norway in 2011. He was also associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad before taking up his role with the Titans.