Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh recently shared a touching anecdote involving his daughter Hinaya and Virat Kohli, following the star batter’s unexpected retirement from Test cricket. Kohli, who brought the curtains down on his illustrious red-ball career on May 12, left fans and former cricketers stunned, including young Hinaya, who couldn’t understand why her favourite player had stepped away.
Harbhajan Singh revealed that upon hearing the news, his daughter was visibly upset and insisted that he message Kohli on her behalf. Moved by her emotions, the former spinner sent the message to Kohli, who replied with a gentle but honest explanation.
“I couldn’t understand why Virat took retirement,” Harbhajan Singh shared, speaking to The Times of India. “My daughter said, ‘Papa, why did Virat Kohli take retirement? I want to message him.’ She wrote, ‘I am Hinaya. Why did you take retirement?’ Virat replied with a laugh, saying, ‘Beta, now it’s time.’”
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Kohli’s Test career ends with 9,230 runs across 210 innings at an impressive average of 46.85. His decision comes just ahead of India’s five-match Test series in England, a challenge where his absence will surely be felt. The team will also miss Rohit Sharma, who announced his Test retirement just five days before Kohli.
With Kohli stepping away from Tests, he will now focus fully on ODI cricket, aiming for glory in the 2027 World Cup. He had earlier bowed out of T20Is after India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he was the Player of the Match in the final against South Africa.
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India’s Test series in England begins on June 20, and the team will be tested in Kohli’s absence, especially in conditions he once thrived in. To fill the massive void at No. 4, selectors have turned to Karun Nair, hoping he can stabilise the middle order in what promises to be a challenging tour.
