Just a day after announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Indian cricketing legend Virat Kohli visited Vrindavan on Tuesday with his wife, actress Anushka Sharma. The couple visited the ashram of revered spiritual guru Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj — Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, located at Varah Ghat — where they engaged in a special spiritual interaction, referred to as Ekantik Vartalaap.
During their visit, Virat and Anushka sought the blessings of Premanand Ji Maharaj. This marked their second spiritual retreat to Vrindavan this year. In January, they had visited the same ashram with their children to meet the spiritual leader and receive his blessings.
Upon their arrival at the ashram, the couple greeted Maharaj Ji with folded hands. The guru warmly asked, “Prasanna ho?” (Are you happy?), to which Virat responded, “Ji, abhi thik hain” (Yes, I’m okay). Maharaj Ji gently replied, “You should stay well.”
The spiritual conversation that followed was deeply moving, particularly for Anushka, who was visibly emotional. Maharaj Ji shared profound insights on inner transformation and spiritual awakening. He remarked: “Ye vaibhav milna kripa nahi hai, ye punya hai. Bhagwan ki kriya maani jaati hai andar ka chintan badalna… Bilkul aise hi rahiye jaise reh rahe ho, bilkul sannsarik ban kar raho, lekin andar ka chintan aapka badal jaaye. Usme yash ki bhavna na rahe. Andar ka chintan ye rehna chahiye ki ‘Prabhu, bohot janm vyateet ho gaya, ab mujhe aap chahiye’.”
(“This prosperity is not just divine grace — it is a result of accumulated virtue. It is considered a divine act when your inner thoughts begin to transform. Continue living your worldly life as you are, but let your internal contemplation evolve. Let there be no desire for fame or recognition within. Your inner dialogue should be: ‘Lord, I have lived through many births — now, I seek only You’.”)
During the session, Anushka earnestly asked if chanting the divine name (Naam Jap) would be enough on the spiritual path. “Baba, kya naam jap se ho jaayega?” (Will chanting the name be enough?), she asked. Maharaj Ji responded in affirmation, reinforcing the power of simple, devoted remembrance of the divine.
Over the past few years, Virat and Anushka have been seen taking several spiritual journeys. In 2023, the couple visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. They had earlier undertaken a spiritual trip to the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram at Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand, a place often visited by seekers of peace and purpose.
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Virat’s visit to Vrindavan came right after he publicly announced his retirement from Test cricket. On Monday, Kohli took to Instagram to bring the curtain down on an illustrious 14-year Test career. He played 123 Tests, amassing 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.
His decision to retire from the longest format came just ahead of India’s upcoming five-match Test series against England. Reports suggest that Kohli had already informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of his decision before making it public.
Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been a key figure in India's red-ball success story over the past decade. His aggressive leadership, consistent batting, and passionate presence redefined India’s approach to Test cricket, especially overseas.
As captain, Kohli recorded 40 Test wins, making him the fourth-most successful skipper in Test history — behind Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41). With 30 Test hundreds, Kohli is also the fourth-highest century scorer for India, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (51), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34). He also holds the record for the most Test double hundreds by an Indian — seven in total — and the most centuries by an Indian Test captain, with 20 tons, well ahead of Sunil Gavaskar’s 11.
Earlier, after India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year, Kohli had stepped away from T20 Internationals. Now 36, he will continue to represent India in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
As Kohli steps into a new phase of his life — both personally and professionally — his visit to Vrindavan reflects a growing inclination toward spiritual grounding and inner peace, supported by Anushka Sharma by his side.
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