Virat Kohli To Make First-Class Return In London? Lord's Prepares Ambitious Offer

Virat Kohli To Make First-Class Return In London? Lord's Prepares Ambitious Offer

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News18.com

Last Updated: May 17, 2025, 20:40 IST

County side Middlesex are aiming to bring Virat Kohli to play First-Class cricket for them. The former India captain is said to be 'keen' to play at the Lord's too.

Virat Kohl retired from Test cricket on May 12 (PTI Photo)

The Middlesex County side is preparing an ambitious offer for former India captain Virat Kohli to play for them in the summer. According to The Guardian, the Indian superstar could be ‘keen’ to play at the team’s home, Lord’s, having announced his retirement from Test cricket recently.

Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12. He previously called off his T20I career in 2024. However, he’s still an active cricketer in ODIs and didn’t mention First-Class or domestic cricket in his retirement post. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) bars contracted players from featuring in domestic T20 competitions overseas, Kohli can play in the County Championship and the Metro Bank Cup.

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“Virat Kohli is the most iconic player of his generation, so of course we are interested in having that conversation," Alan Coleman, director of cricket at Middlesex, was quoted as saying in the report, confirming the team’s official interest in signing the Indian legend.

Middlesex have already used the iconic Lord’s as a pull for star overseas talent. Kohli’s old friend, South Africa’s AB de Villiers, in the T20 Blast in 2019. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson has also signed with Middlesex and will also play for the London Spirit in The Hundred this season.

Middlesex are in the second division of the County Championship. They will play at Lord’s in September against Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. If the deal goes through, fans might be able to see Kohli and Williamson batting together in First-Class cricket — which would send Lord’s ticket sales through the roof.

Hence, the report said, the officials in the County are happy to ‘split the cost’ of getting Kohli on board.

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He has previously been interested in playing in the County Championship, signing for Surrey before India’s tour of England in 2018. Ultimately, a neck injury meant he couldn’t go through with the contract then.

Kohli has a home in London too, which can work in Middlesex’s favor. The right-hander doesn’t have a great Test record at the iconic Lord’s, having scored just 127 runs in three matches at an average of 21.17. However, in 2021, he led India to one of their most famous Test wins here.

First Published: May 17, 2025, 20:17 IST

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