As India gears up for a much-anticipated five-Test series against England, one absence looms larger than most: that of Virat Kohli. Although no longer part of the Test squad, the former captain remains physically close to the action, quietly residing in London with his wife Anushka Sharma and their two children. Having stepped away from Test cricket, Kohli has opted for a life of quiet anonymity, far from the limelight of the sport he once dominated.
According to The Telegraph, Kohli’s current life in England is intentionally low-key and private. Despite India playing two Tests in London, Kohli has distanced himself from all cricket-related events. Unlike Sachin Tendulkar, who was recently seen at Lord’s, Kohli skipped both the World Test Championship final and the MCC’s “World Cricket Connects” symposium, choosing privacy over participation.
London has long served as a sanctuary for Kohli—one that offers him the peace and personal space rarely possible in India. He’s occasionally spotted at local restaurants or even riding the Tube, a level of normalcy unthinkable back home. The family is believed to reside in Notting Hill, a neighbourhood they’ve quietly called home for several years. In contrast to his high-profile cricketing persona, Kohli now leads a deliberately minimalistic lifestyle.
Interestingly, County side Middlesex had recently shown interest in signing Kohli, but he has yet to respond to the offer. His only recent cricketing engagement came earlier this month when Royal Challengers Bengaluru—his IPL team—won their maiden title. Unfortunately, celebrations turned tragic during the victory parade, which ended in a deadly stampede.
Kohli is expected to return to international duty in August for India’s ODI tour of Bangladesh—the only format he continues to play. Until then, his connection to the England series will remain paradoxical: geographically near, yet emotionally and professionally detached. Still, he did host Team India players, including new captain Shubman Gill, for lunch at his London residence before the series began.
