Virat Kohli to Play For Japan Post Retirement? Here's the Truth

The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) recently caught the attention of cricket fans around the world with a creative Instagram post. In a fun “What if?” scenario, they imagined cricket legends like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Rohit Sharma coming out of T20I retirement to represent Japan. The post quickly went viral, with Virat Kohli Japan cricket team being the main buzzword which made the post go viral. It was also for its humour and showing just how loved these players remain, even in countries where cricket is still developing, like Japan.

Having stepped away from T20Is in 2024 and retired from Test cricket earlier in 2025 to focus solely on the 50-over format, Kohli’s impact on the game remains as strong as ever. He holds the record for the most centuries in ODIs, with 51 centuries to his name, and recently became the fastest cricketer to cross 14,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 287 innings during the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Virat Kohli to Play for Japan National Cricket Team?

The Japan Cricket Association recently sparked a lot of interest with a fun and imaginative post on Instagram. They asked fans to consider a “what if” scenario: what if some of cricket’s biggest stars, who have retired from T20 internationals, decided to come out of retirement and play for Japan? The post mentioned names like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and AB de Villiers, who are among the best cricketers in the world.

Many of the players named, including Kohli and Rohit Sharma, had already retired from T20Is by 2024. The post also included other big names like MS Dhoni and Kieron Pollard. Now, Kohli is preparing to return to international action in India’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, starting October 19 in Perth.

With Shubman Gill taking over as ODI captain and Shreyas Iyer serving as vice-captain, Kohli’s experience and presence will still play a crucial role, particularly in challenging overseas conditions like those in Australia.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to Feature in ODIs Against Australia

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially announced the 15-member squad for the highly anticipated three-match ODI series against Australia, kicking off on October 19, 2025, in Perth. This series marks a significant leadership transition with Shubman Gill appointed as the new ODI captain, taking over the reins from Rohit Sharma. Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain.

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retirement from T20 Internationals and Test cricket within the last year were among the most impactful decisions for Indian cricket as well as their fans, but the duo remain vital to India’s plans in the ODI format ahead of the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

The team combines a blend of experienced players such as KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh, alongside promising youngsters like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Dhruv Jurel. One of the biggest talking points surrounding the squad announcement is the unexpected exclusion of Ravindra Jadeja, one of the best all-rounders in the world. Jadeja's consistent performances and all-around abilities have been a mainstay for India across formats.

The Men in Blue are looking to start things over with a new leader in Shubman Gill and ultimately eye the ICC 2027 World Cup. It has been said that the future of stalwarts like Virat and Rohit will be judged solely on form and merit. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding what lies ahead in this format for the two Indian legends, but for the time being, they are all set to feature in the three-match ODI series starting October 19, 2025.