'If playing for gold medal at Olympics...': Virat Kohli on possible retirement U-turn in T20Is

Virat Kohli might come out of retirement. (Photo: ICC)

India's star cricketer Virat Kohli has said he might consider coming out of T20I retirement if his country's team will qualify for the final of the Los Angeles men's cricket event in 2028. The 36-year-old retired from T20 internationals after winning the T20 World Cup final in 2024 against South Africa in Barbados. For those unfamiliar, cricket will be back in the Olympics after 128 years at the 2028 Summer Games.

"I don't know. Maybe if we are playing for gold medal, that is much taken for one game, get a medal. Come back home. No, but I think it is a great thing and to be Olympic champions would be a absolutely magnificent feeling," Kohli said on the sidelines of Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit, powered by Leaders.

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The 36-year-old is one of the fittest cricketers in the world. However, he was not always the fittest and in the recent event he revealed what inspired him to become one of the fittest athletes in the world.

"My transformations came after a few tough tours when I saw the guys lasting on the field longer than us. From the team point of view things were not tough but convincing my mum was tough. She thought I was looking sick. I told her that the world is talking about my training methods and I am not sick. I felt that I was able to do things much better," he added.

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Kohli also said he no longer aspires to achieve milestones, but he is playing cricket for the "pure joy" of it.

"It's pretty much come down to just the pure joy, enjoyment, competitive streak, and love for the game. And as long as that is there I will continue to play. As I said today I am not playing for any achievement," he said.

Kohli said that innate "competitive streak" makes it tougher for a sportsperson to find the right time to move away from the game.

"You know the competitive streak doesn't allow you to find the answer (for the retirement question). I had a very interesting conversation about this with Rahul Dravid. He said you always have to stay in touch with yourself.

"Figure out where you are placed in your life and the answer is not that easy. You might be going through a lean phase and you feel like this is it. But it might not be. But then when it is time my competitive streak would not allow me to accept it. Maybe one more month. Maybe six more months. So I think it's a fine balance. At this point of time in my life I feel pretty happy," he explained.

Kohli did admit that age has made the whole process of staying on top of his game a bit more difficult.

"I want to be able to have all my energy in place. Now, it takes much more effort as people who have played the game for a long period of time understand. You can't do so many things in your mid to late 30s that you can in your mid 20s. I'm at a bit of a different place in my life as well. I think for me it's a natural progression. I'm sure all these young guys will hopefully get to that place. But now, the energy that's coming out of me feels very peaceful and calm," he said.