Anushka Sharma agrees with Varun Grover's note for Virat Kohli post Test retirement: ‘Only those with a story to tell…'

Indian Express

14-05-2025

On May 12, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, surprising and disheartening a legion of his fans. Several fans as well as famous personalities took to their social media handles to pen a note for the cricketer. While some respected his decision, others expressed disappointment, requesting the cricketer to rethink his decision. Now, stand up comedian-writer has penned a heartfelt note for the star cricketer, which received a special reaction from actress Anushka Sharma.
Penning a long note on his Instagram handle, Varun Grover wrote, 'Test cricket is special because it is a narrative sport. So many variables – four innings, five days, twenty-two specialists, changing weather (sometimes several times in a day), humidity in the air, the condition of the pitch, luck determined by a coin toss, and constantly evolving mental calculations.'
He added, 'Although every sport reflects some aspect of life, but test cricket is like a literary novel — combining many different genres into one.'
The line that caught Anushka's attention is, 'That's why only those with a story to tell succeed in test cricket. A story so long and deep that it doesn't care for the pitch conditions – grass, dry, home or away.' The actress shared this specific slide on her Instagram stories with a white heart emoji.
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The next slide in Varun's post read, 'Virat Kohli is the biggest character of this novell over the last decade. He not only lived the different emotions of the game but also enriched them. A lot has been written about what he gave to the team and India, but he became something rare for test cricket — a sensitive, drama-loving hero who looks good both laughing and crying, winning and losing.'
Sharing the post, Varun Grover wrote, 'Thank you Virat Kohli. You brought the precision of a surgeon and passion of a stage performer to this game 'of inches, played in yards'. You will be missed on the grounds.'
On the day of his retirement announcement, Anushka also penned a long note appreciating her husband. Sharing their picture on a cricket field, the actress wrote, 'They'll talk about the records and the milestones — but I'll remember the tears you never showed, the battles no one saw, and the unwavering love you gave this format of the game. I know how much all this took from you. After every Test series, you came back a little wiser, a little humbler — and watching you evolve through it all has been a privilege.'