A day after announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Virat Kohli was seen at Mumbai Airport, and a quick but emotional exchange with a paparazzo drew eyeballs. As he passed through the terminal on May 13, 2025, one of the photographers shouted out, "Virat sir, retirement kyon le li? Khel nahin dekhne dega ab." Kohli, looking somewhat uneasy, said something curt and then moved off. The video clip of this scene rapidly went viral, touching the hearts of fans throughout social media.

Kohli's retirement on May 12, 2025, signaled the conclusion of a remarkable red-ball career that lasted 123 Tests and yielded 9,906 runs. Kohli departed the format just 94 runs shy of the beloved 10,000-run mark that has only been achieved by a select few legends. His announcement brought on conflicting feelings: pride in his incredible contribution to the format and frustration that he was so near yet so far from adding to his records.

This airport moment was not merely about a media interaction—it was representative of a larger change. Kohli, who wore his love for Test cricket on his sleeve, has now formally brought to a close an era in which he embodied India's competitive advantage abroad and domestically. For fans, it's the end of a golden chapter they grew up witnessing.

Focus Shifts to ODIs and 2027 World Cup

With Test cricket behind him, Kohli will now be set to target ODIs and the IPL as well, hoping to leave his mark in the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. He already has 13,906 runs in ODIs, and his experience is still crucial to India's limited-overs aspirations.

Watch the video here

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma at Mumbai Airport ✈️

- Paps to Virat : Virat sir why did you take retirement? We will not see cricket any more! 💔 pic.twitter.com/rXY8k4iqN4

— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) May 13, 2025

Also Read: RCB in trouble as England names ODI and T20I squad for West Indies series

The emotional goodbye, particularly the earnest moment at the airport, is not just a testament to his individual shift but also to the strong bond between Kohli and the millions of fans. Even in silence, everyone felt the burden of his choice.