Virat Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma.
Credit: PTI Photo
The retirement of R Ashwin has now set off the countdown for Virat Kohli's retirement in the minds of those who follow cricket. When, where and how Kohli will retire, we do not know yet. But, recent reports as well as previous indications from the icon suggest that once he retires, he will want a break from the limelight.
Kohli setting up a new residence in UK seems to be a step towards that post-retirement obscurity. His childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma confirmed to Dainik Jagran that the former Indian skipper will move to the British Isles with his family 'soon'.
When asked whether Kohli is planning to leave India forever and live abroad, Sharma told Dainik Jagran, "Yes, Virat is planning to shift to London with his children and wife Anushka Sharma. He is going to leave India and shift there very soon. Kohli already spends most of his time with his family when away from cricket."
Kohli has already retired from the T20I format after the T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. Given his current form, age and an increased focus on his family, retirement might not be that far for the legendary batsmen.
Despite his international fame, to the point where it is almost impossible for him to move around freely in public, Kohli is well-known to want to keep his personal life out of the news as much as possible.
Recently, according to a report by 7 News, Kohli lashed out a reporter from the Australian media for an apparent misunderstanding, where he thought they were filming his children.
“It was upon seeing the waiting cameras that Kohli became a little heated over what is largely a misunderstanding when he thought the media was filming him with his children," a reporter was quoted saying.
“With my kids, I need some privacy, you can’t film without asking me," Kohli reportedly said.
Later, the issue was clarified after it was revealed to Kohli that the cameras were not pointed at his kids.
The Indian ace batsmen has placed a firm ban on media filming his children, with him on occasion even offering and negotiating with reporters to keep them away from his young ones.
Kohli hasn't been in the greatest of form, with his only notable score in the on-going Border-Gavaskar series Vs Australia being the century he scored in the second innings at Perth.