Why Virat Kohli opted to spend time in London after Test retirement

Virat Kohli made his return to international cricket after a long break of seven months on Sunday, October 19. The legendary batter had stayed away from the public eye since helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the Indian Premier League. Speaking ahead of the 1st ODI against Australia, Kohli opened up about the extended break he took in London with his wife and family.

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In an interview with Adam Gilchrist and Ravi Shastri, Kohli revealed that his retirement from Test cricket allowed him to spend more time at home and catch up on his personal life. The iconic cricketer admitted that he had not really experienced a proper break while playing international cricket over the past 15 years and was genuinely happy to spend some quality time with his wife and two children.

“Yeah, it’s been a long time off for me since I retired from Test cricket, and as I was saying, I’ve just been catching up on life. I hadn’t been able to do that for so many years. Being able to spend quality time with my kids and family at home has been a really beautiful phase — something I’ve truly enjoyed,” Virat Kohli said on Fox Cricket ahead of the opening ODI of the 3-match series.

“To be honest, with the amount of cricket I’ve played over the last 15 to 20 years, I’ve hardly ever taken a real break. I’ve probably played more matches than almost anyone in the last 15 years when you combine international cricket with the IPL. So, this time off was actually very refreshing for me,” he added.

IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Live Updates | Scorecard

Kohli Questioned Over Fitness Routine

During his break in London, questions were raised about Virat Kohli's fitness standards. With the Board of Control for Cricket in India moving away from the Yo-Yo Test and the Bronco Test, critics were eager to see how Kohli would perform upon returning directly to international cricket after such a long break.

However, Kohli allayed those concerns by turning up in top shape, stating that he is currently the fittest he has ever been. He explained that there are two key facets to the game — the physical and the mental. Mentally, he was already locked in, and the only thing he needed to ensure was that his body remained in peak condition — something he has worked hard to maintain.

"I’m feeling as fit — if not fitter — than I’ve ever been. There’s a real sense of freshness when you know the game so well mentally, and it’s just the physical preparation that needs to be looked after. At this stage of my career, I understand that if my body is fit and my reflexes are sharp, the game awareness is already there. My body just has to keep up with it, and that’s something I work hard to maintain," Kohli said.

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"I live my life with that approach, and right now I have no issues at all. I’m feeling fresh coming into Australia, moving well in the nets and in fielding sessions too. So, all good so far,” concluded the legendary batter.

Virat did not have a good time on his return to international cricket. The batter was caught at point for an 8-ball duck by Mitchell Starc in the 7th over of the match. Kohli's batting showed signs of his old issues from the last tour of Australia, where he had constantly edged the ball behind the stumps and into the slip cordon. On Sunday, he tried to poke the ball outside the off stump once again, ending up giving a catch to Cooper Connoly at point.

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