Indian fast bowler Navdeep Saini recently addressed the ongoing speculation about Virat Kohli’s ODI retirement. He suggested that the 36-year-old batting great has no plans of stepping away from the format anytime soon. Saini shared his views during an interview with Sports Yaari.
When asked about Kohli’s latest picture showing a greying beard, the pacer responded that despite the change in appearance, Kohli remains the same formidable player.
“No, I don’t think so. This is a natural thing (grey beard), what difference does it make? The player will remain the same. Bhaiya khelenge zarur (He will surely play).”
It is worth mentioning that Virat Kohli has already bid farewell to both T20Is and Test cricket, but continues to feature in the ODI format. His latest outing came in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where he scored 218 runs in five innings at an impressive average of 54.50, playing a vital role in India’s title triumph.
Team India’s next ODI challenge will be a three-match away series against Australia, starting October 19.
Navdeep Saini Praises Mohammed Siraj’s Performances In England
Navdeep Saini showered praise on Mohammed Siraj after India’s five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series against England. He described Siraj as a fearless bowler with strong self-belief, capable of stepping up and delivering in crucial situations. Saini stated in the same interview:
“We have played together for many years, right from India A. One thing I’ve always seen about him is that his belief is very high because he knows that no matter what the situation is, he will do it. When a person himself thinks that, he will surely do it because he has already manifested that.”
“Woh jigre wala bowler hai (He is a bowler with courage). I have seen this in him right from our India A days that the effort he puts in his first ball, he bowls the last ball with the same intensity, until there is a result.”
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