Virat Kohli has put an end to the retirement rumors, stating that he’s thoroughly enjoying his cricket and still has that competitive fire. At the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit on Saturday, he made it clear that he’s not planning to step away from the game anytime soon.

“Don’t worry, I’m not making any big announcements,” Kohli said. “Everything’s good right now. I still love being out there playing.”

Kohli recently played a key role in India’s Champions Trophy victory in Dubai, which sparked more conversations about his future in international cricket. Captain Rohit Sharma also brushed off any retirement speculations about himself.

At 36, Kohli retired from T20Is last year after winning the World Cup in the West Indies, but he’s gearing up for a new IPL season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With a recent ODI high from the Champions Trophy win and the England Test series coming up this summer, he highlighted that his motivation now comes from the sheer joy of playing and the thrill of competition.

“It’s all about enjoying the game for me now. As long as that’s there, I’ll keep playing. I’m not focused on chasing records anymore.”

Kohli pointed out that many players find it tough to decide when to retire, especially those driven by their competitive nature.

“The competitive spirit makes it hard to figure things out,” he shared. “I had a fascinating chat with Rahul Dravid about this. He mentioned that it’s crucial to stay connected with yourself. You need to assess where you are in life, and that’s not always straightforward. You might hit a rough patch and think it’s time to hang up your boots, but it could just be a phase. Yet, when the moment does come, my competitive side might push me to think, ‘Just one more month, or maybe six more months.’ So, it’s all about finding that balance. Right now, I feel pretty content with where I am.”

Kohli also expressed excitement about cricket returning to the Olympics at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, calling it a significant milestone for the sport.

“When I heard the announcement, I was thrilled. The surge in T20 cricket globally, especially through leagues like the IPL, has been huge in making this happen. It’s an amazing chance for our athletes to be part of it.”

When asked if he might consider coming back for T20Is to chase an Olympic gold, Kohli playfully brushed off the idea.

“I don’t know, maybe if we’re in the running for the gold medal, I could jump in for a game, grab the medal, and head back home,” he joked.

“Becoming Olympic champions would be an incredible achievement. It would be a first, and I’m sure we’ll be in the mix for that.”

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