New Delhi: After a gap of 225 days from international duty, cricket legend Virat Kohli has touched down in Perth with the Indian team for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia (commencing October 19), and he’s already stoking up controversy with an inspiring tweet that’s left everyone jumping.
The former Test skipper, who retired from the five-day games earlier this year, will wear the blue jersey for the first time after retiring from the longest format.
Joined by Rohit Sharma and new ODI captain Shubman Gill, Kohli ensured he made his presence felt on the social media platform on X and wrote: “The only time you fail is when you fall down and stay down.” Paired with a follow-up quote — “Failure teach’s you what victory never will” — it rapidly drew over 128,000 likes, and was not without inspiring wild conjecture.
Is this a veiled shot at the retirement rumors? There’s a divided-house air among fans too, with many seeing it as Kohli’s way of saying he’s far from finished. The timing could barely be more loaded: Rumours have abounded since Champions Trophy 2025, fuelled by BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s candour about having made no guarantees to Kohli or Sharma for the 2027 ODI World Cup. But the tweet also seems like a calculated counter — a story of resilience in spite of the noise.
All eyes will be on the master batsman as India aim for a winning start to the series. His re-entry isn’t just a moment of nostalgia, but a reality check on India’s theoretical road map for 2027 ODI World Cup glory. Will Kohli put the doubters to bed or light more fires of controversy?