Will Virat Kohli come out of retirement for the LA Olympics? The whole truth behind his statement

Indian cricket team star Virat Kohli hinted that he might come out of T20I retirement to play for the national side, at the 2028 LA Olympics.

Will Virat Kohli come out of retirement for the LA Olympics? The whole truth behind his statement

Virat Kohli could come out of T20 retirement to play for India at the 2028 LA Olympics. (via Al Jazeera)

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli hinted that he could come out of retirement at the allure of winning a medal at the 2028 Olympics, in Los Angeles, USA. He made this interesting claim in a recent interview, where he backed the inclusion of cricket in the upcoming Olympics.

Cricket was one of the five sports approved by the International Olympic Committee in its 141st session in Mumbai, for the LA Olympics in 2028. It is the second-most popular sport in the world, after football. The sport, however, was a part of the 1900 Paris Olympics, where Devon County Wanderers (representing Great Britain) defeated French Athletic Club Union (France) to win the gold medal in a two-day match.

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Initially, cricket’s major governing bodies opposed its Olympic return. However, the situation changed in 2015, as a result of which the ICC supported its inclusion in the Olympics. In 2020, both USA Cricket and the BCCI backed a 2028 Olympics bid. In October 2023, Los Angeles 2028 proposed cricket, and the IOC approved the bid. Cricket in the upcoming Olympics will be played in the T20 format.

India, who remain front-runners to win a medal will however, be without their star players, Virat Kohli. The 36-year-old veteran batsman had retired following India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. He had scored a match-winning 76 off 59 balls in the final against South Africa, to be adjudged the Player of the Match. Not just Kohli, but Indian captain Rohit Sharma and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also followed suit.

Speaking at RCB’s Innovation Lab Leadership Summit, Virat Kohli welcomed cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics. Moreover, he jokingly added that he might consider coming out of T20I retirement, to add an Olympic medal to his cabinet. Kohli hinted that he might only play the gold-medal match, should India make it to the final of the 2028 LA Olympics. He underlined the feeling of being an Olympic champion.

For the Olympics, I don’t know, maybe if we are playing for the gold medal, I just might sneak in for one game, get a medal, and come back home.

Virat Kohli on playing for India at the 2028 Olympics (H/T Olympics.com)

Additionally, the 36-year-old batsman also recognized the Indian Premier League’s significant contribution to paving the way for cricket’s Olympic inclusion. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether the all-time second-highest T20I run-scorer returns to play in 2028, at the age of almost 40.

Virat Kohli expresses doubt about him playing in future Australia tours, hinting at retirement

Star Indian cricketer and former captain Virat Kohli opened up about his future with the national team, admitting that he might not have another ‘Australian tour’ in him. Kohli made this revelation while speaking at RCB’s Innovation Lab summit, ahead of the 2025 IPL.

Virat Kohli on retirement
Indian batter Virat Kohli hinted that he might retire from Test cricket, and admitted that he does not have the strength in him to play another Australian tour. (via Times of India)

Virat Kohli endured a rough test season, and his dismal performances in the Border-Gavaskar trophy shed light on his recent struggles in red-ball cricket. He most recently stated that he might not feature in another Australian tour’, owing to the physical and mental needs of the game. This sparked speculations that the 36-year-old batter might be contemplating retirement, in the near future.

However, Kohli later clarified that he is not considering retirement at the very moment, and expressed his love for playing the game. He reassured fans about his future, while also adding that he no longer aspires to achieve milestones. Moreover, he also talked about the challenges associated in finding the perfect time to retire from the sport. Kohli also recalled a conversation that he had with ex-Indian coach Rahul Dravid.

I might not have another Australia tour in me, so I am at peace with whatever happened in the past. Don’t get nervous. I’m not making any announcements. As of now everything is fine. I still love playing the game.

Virat Kohli stated

Virat Kohli went on to add that his recent performances have been impacted by his advancing age. Therefore, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for the 36-year-old batter. He has already won an ODI World Cup, two Champions Trophies and a T20 World Cups, in his career.