'Abhi to thik hai.....': Premanand Ji Maharaj asked Virat Kohli if he is happy after Test retirement

India.com

13-05-2025

'Abhi to thik hai.....': Premanand Ji Maharaj asked Virat Kohli if he is happy after Test retirement
New Delhi: A day after announcing his retirement from Test cricket, India's batting legend Virat Kohli, along with his wife Anushka Sharma, visited Vrindavan on Tuesday. They had a special spiritual conversation (Ekantik Vartalaap) with Premanand Ji Maharaj at his Ashram, Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, located at Varah Ghat.
In Vrindavan, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma met Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj and received his blessings. This marked the couple's second visit to Vrindavan this year. Earlier in January, Virat, Anushka, and their children had visited the holy city to seek the blessings of Premanand Ji Maharaj.
Upon arriving at the ashram, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma greeted Premanand Ji Maharaj, who kindly asked, 'Prasanna ho? (Are you happy?)' Virat replied, 'Ji, abhi thik hain (Yes, I'm okay).' Maharaj Ji responded gently, saying, 'You should stay well.'
Maharaj Ji shared a deep spiritual lesson with Virat and Anushka, saying, 'Ye vaibhav milna kripa nahi hai, ye punya hai. Bhagwan ki kriya maani jati hai, andar ka chintan badalna… Bilkul aise hi rahi jaise reh rahe ho, bilkul sansarik ban kar raho, lekin andar ka chintan aapka badal jaye, usme yash ki bhavna na reh jaye… Andar ka chintan ye rahna achha ki 'Prabhu, bahut janm vyateet ho gaya, ab mujhe aap chahiye'.'
(Translation: 'This prosperity is not merely grace — it is the result of virtue (punya). It is considered to be a movement toward the Divine. What truly matters is the transformation of your inner contemplation… Live just as you are living now, fully engaged in the world, but let your inner thought process change. Let there be no desire for recognition or fame within. Your inner contemplation should be: 'Lord, enough of all worldly experiences, now, I seek only You.'')
Maharaj Ji's words touched Anushka deeply, and she was visibly emotional as they received the spiritual guidance.
The couple has been seen embarking on several spiritual journeys over the past few years. In 2023, they visited the revered Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. Prior to that, Virat and Anushka also made a pilgrimage to the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram at Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand, reflecting their growing inclination toward spirituality and inner peace.
On Monday, Virat Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket via Instagram, bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career in the longest format. Over the course of 123 matches, he amassed 9,230 runs, including an impressive 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His decision to step away from Tests followed reports that he had already informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the upcoming five-match Test series against England scheduled for next month.
Kohli, who made his Test debut in 2011, has been a cornerstone of India's red-ball resurgence over the past decade. His aggressive captaincy, prolific batting, and relentless intensity played a pivotal role in transforming India into a dominant force in Test cricket, both at home and overseas. He retires as the fourth-most successful Test captain in the history of the game, with 40 wins under his belt — trailing only Graeme Smith (53), Ricky Ponting (48), and Steve Waugh (41).
Kohli's 30 Test centuries place him as the fourth-most successful Indian batter in terms of hundreds, trailing only legends Sachin Tendulkar (51), Rahul Dravid (36), and Sunil Gavaskar (34). Notably, he holds the Indian record for the most double centuries in Tests, with seven to his name. Kohli also tops the chart for the most Test hundreds by an Indian captain, with 20 centuries — well ahead of Gavaskar's 11. Having already bid farewell to the T20I format after India's T20 World Cup triumph last year, the 36-year-old will now focus solely on ODIs for the national team.