With India playing England in the third Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground, the fervor around the stadium is not merely about the sport. From cricketing royalty Sachin Tendulkar to Aussie fast bowler legend Brett Lee and even UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Thursday witnessed a galaxy of stars in the stands. But, despite all the sparkling names, one conspicuous absence has left fans wondering that of Virat Kohli.
Even though Kohli was in London, he was nowhere to be found at Lord’s. The ex-Indian captain, who took himself out of Test cricket earlier this year, has apparently decided not to make an appearance at the moment. His recent visits to Wimbledon, where he had watched Novak Djokovic and a charity event hosted by close friend Yuvraj Singh had raised hopes among the fans that he would make an unexpected trip to the ‘Home of Cricket.’ But hopes were soon belied.
While broadcasting live, commentator Dinesh Karthik talked about the elephant in the room. In response to a question from fellow commentator Michael Atherton about whether Kohli would stop by at any time during the game, Karthik’s reply was revealing. “He lives just close to Lord’s, as it happens. But I don’t think he’ll drop in – he’s got daddy commitments to attend to,” Karthik replied with a grin.
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Kohli is said to stay on St. John’s Wood Road, the same road Lord’s is on, which makes his no-show even more noticeable. But the 36-year-old appears to be living a low-key period in life, keeping a focus on his family. With daughter Vamika and his newborn son Akaay at home, Kohli does not seem to mind being in his fatherhood phase.
Since his Test retirement, Kohli has kept a low key. The Telegraph reports that he’s shifted to a more discreet life in London and even rejected an opportunity to play county cricket for Middlesex. Though he did post a congratulatory message on social media following India’s win at Edgbaston and gave a shoutout to captain Shubman Gill, the erstwhile skipper has remained relatively under the radar.
For now, fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Kohli back in action. He’s expected to return for India’s ODI assignments, possibly during the rumored tour of Sri Lanka in August. Until then, Kohli seems content watching the game from afar and enjoying some well-earned time with his young family.
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