Virat Kohli spotted at Delhi airport with wife Anushka Sharma amid Test series absence

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma were spotted at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi wearing protective face masks as they arrived ahead of India's 2026 Test series against Sri Lanka. The couple, known as 'Virushka,' maintained their low-profile approach while traveling, drawing immediate attention from onlookers and media stationed outside the terminal gate. Kohli was last seen in action during the three-match ODI series against England last month, where he registered consecutive half-centuries to lead the middle order. The right-handed batter had a strong individual campaign, anchoring the innings in the second ODI at Cardiff with a composed half-century before hitting a fluent 74 off 60 balls with four boundaries and three sixes in the series decider at Lord's.

Why is Virat Kohli not part of the India vs Sri Lanka Test series?

Virat Kohli is not part of India's 2026 Test series against Sri Lanka because he officially retired from Test cricket in May 2025, bringing down the curtain on a stellar 14-year career in the format. Across 123 Test matches between 2011 and 2025, the batting stalwart amassed 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85. His record in the longest format stands as the culmination of a career that began in 2011.

Aakash Chopra picks Virat Kohli over Sachin Tendulkar in ODIs

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on Virat Kohli and picked him ahead of Sachin Tendulkar in ODI cricket. Chopra, who played international cricket with Tendulkar, opined that Kohli is way ahead of the Master Blaster in SENA countries and there is no comparison between them in the 50-over format. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: "Overall in SENA countries, Virat clearly has Sachin beat. When it comes to ODI cricket, there is no comparison." "Even with any parameter and excuses like the difference in eras accounted for, there hasn't been a better ODI player than Virat Kohli. No one has understood ODI cricket better than Kohli. He has measured this format like a calculator and become the run machine, ton machine, and chase master." Kohli, who made his ODI debut in 2008, currently has the second-best average (58.59) in the format with a minimum of 50 innings. The former India captain has piled up 14,941 runs in 302 innings across 314 matches. In 2018, he became the quickest batter to score 10,000 runs in ODIs. Kohli has 54 centuries in the format. No other batter has scored 50 ODI centuries.

Aakash Chopra names the only SENA country where Virat Kohli beats Sachin Tendulkar

Aakash Chopra highlighted that performances in the SENA countries - South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia - should be the only parameter to compare Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in Test cricket. He highlighted that Kohli has a better average than Tendulkar only in South Africa. Legendary South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers recently put Virat ahead of Tendulkar. According to him, Sachin was the first batter who showed the world that batters from the sub-continent could do well in seaming and bouncy conditions. However, the veteran feels Kohli raises the bar, and he was stronger than great Tendulkar. Meanwhile, Aakash noted that Tendulkar has better Test numbers in overseas matches than Kohli in SENA countries, with the latter only leading in South Africa. "You can judge after taking the performances in the SEN countries into consideration. Sachin played 63 Tests in SENA countries and recorded an average of 51.30, including 17 hundreds and 23 fifties. He amassed 5,387 runs. On the other hand, Kohli played 48 matches and posted 3,781 runs at an average of 41.54. Virat hit 12 centuries, but Paaji played 63 matches. The real difference is the average," Chopra said. "It is not easy to bat in South Africa. The average takes a hit in this part of the world. Paaji's has also fallen. He has amassed an average of only 46.44 in the Rainbow Nation. Virat Kohli has done well in South Africa, recording an average of 49.50. Kohli has played nine Tests over here and has two hundreds and four fifties," he added.

Virat Kohli completes 18 years of cricket: Inside king's Rs 1060 cr net worth

Virat Kohli completed 18 years of cricket, and with that milestone comes a look at his financial empire. The cricketer's net worth is estimated at Rs 1060 crore. Kohli's financial portfolio includes luxury bungalows, a London house, and numerous brand endorsements. His earnings reflect his status not just as a cricketing great but as a global brand. The 18-year journey has seen him become one of the most marketable athletes in the world, with partnerships spanning fitness, lifestyle, and automotive sectors.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket in May 2025 after a 14-year career, finishing with 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85.
• Aakash Chopra picked Virat Kohli over Sachin Tendulkar in ODI cricket, stating there is no comparison between them in the format.
• Kohli has a better Test average than Sachin Tendulkar only in South Africa among SENA countries, with Kohli averaging 49.50 in nine Tests there compared to Tendulkar's 46.44 in 63 matches.
• Virat Kohli's net worth is estimated at Rs 1060 crore, with assets including luxury bungalows and a London house.

Virat Kohli remains a central figure in Indian cricket regardless of format. His retirement from Test cricket marks the end of an era, while his continued dominance in ODIs and limited-overs cricket continues to spark debate among legends like Aakash Chopra and AB de Villiers. Off the field, his financial success and brand value reflect his status as one of the sport's true global icons. As India moves forward in the 2026 series against Sri Lanka without him in the Test setup, Kohli's focus remains on the limited-overs formats and his growing business ventures.