Virat Kohli to Play County Cricket Post-IPL 2025 as Part of Preparations for England Series

Virat Kohli has expressed interest in playing county cricket immediately after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League 2025. This decision comes as he prepares for the India Tour of England in June. Kohli is currently experiencing a challenging phase in his career, particularly in the longer formats of the game, where he has struggled to build innings and has often been dismissed by deliveries outside off-stump, a key weakness for him. To tackle some of the best bowling opponents, Kohli is seeking preparation time and may be seen in the county circuits to sharpen his skills before embarking on a new World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

After a disappointing run during the New Zealand tour and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, many cricket fans speculated about Kohli's retirement as his form was declining rapidly, despite scoring a century in Perth, which was his only Test century that year. However, Kohli has made it clear that he is interested in continuing to play Test cricket in the upcoming WTC cycle, which runs until 2027.

This news has surprised many who thought he might retire, especially given that he is already 36 years old. Nevertheless, Kohli remains determined to achieve more and may be looking to retire on a high note, similar to how he did after the 2023 T20 World Cup, as India missed out on a chance to reach this year’s WTC final.

If Kohli signs a contract, it will not be the first time he has joined a county team; he was previously signed with Surrey Cricket Club in 2018 to prepare for that year's England Test series. Unfortunately, he did not play a single match at that time due to injury.

Kohli’s decision to possibly join a county team during this challenging period shows a commitment to improving his game and managing his shot selection. If he does join a county team ahead of the England series, it will serve as an inspiring example for players everywhere. Until then, fans will be eagerly awaiting official confirmation on whether Kohli will be completing his unfinished business with Surrey or joining another team.