Virat Kohli, one of cricket’s greatest icons, recently announced his retirement from Test cricket after a stellar 14-year career where he amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests. Following that announcement, there has been much speculation about where he goes next; some are saying pickleball may be in his future. The former Indian captain was spotted playing the game with his wife, Anushka Sharma, at a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team event inu, which made for quite the buzz, especially the sight of Kohli having fun with a teammate, Dinesh Karthik, and squash star Dipika Pallikal.

The pickleball event came about due to a rainout of an RCB practice session and included Kohli enjoying the game with teammate Karthik and Pallikal. Based on his behavior at the event, Kohli may be interested in the game. Fans posted on X about Kohli playing pickleball, with one person mentioning, “Bro already started playing a new sport!” The nature of pickleball makes it perfect for retired sports stars; it is good on the body and does not require as much physical strain as other sports. The parallel to Kohli’s competitive nature seems to be potentially aligning with the sport of pickleball, and it is growing fast, which has started to attract athletes from all sports. Overall, the sport should be enticing to Kohli. There are reports that many Bollywood and Hollywood stars or former tennis players have taken an interest in pickleball, which may influence Kohli's attention to the sport.

While Kohli has stated he wants to take a considerable amount of time off after retiring, his recent night out playing pickleball indicates that he will at least be testing the waters of new sports after retirement. A 2024 interview with RCB stated he will have no regrets in his career, which could indicate a new direction that would allow him to participate in something competitive without the full-fledged violence and expectation of professional Cricket. If pickleball is an avenue he explores seriously or just to have fun, he already created some buzz with his appearance in the sport. 

Kohli’s Potential Pickleball Journey

Kohli's capabilities as a hardcore-nose athlete and relentless effort could make him a force in pickleball. His hand-eye coordination, quick reaction time, and game plan from years of Cricket would allow him to dominate the sport's chaotic back-and-forth rallies. If he decides to pursue pickleball competitively, he could go the route of former Tennis stars, use his world fame to help elevate the sport in India.

Also Read: What is pickleball? The sport Virat Kohli was seen playing – rules and how to play

However, Kohli has also alluded to spending time with family and privacy after retirement and going to London with Anushka and their kids. While pickleball offers a fun, less demanding outlet, his focus may remain on business ventures and philanthropy. Only time will tell if Kohli will paddle his way into pickleball’s competitive scene or keep it as a casual pastime.