You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days, says Virat Kohli on Test retirement

Virat Kohli, who is famous for his quick wit and frankness, managed to chuckle at himself when announcing his recent Test retirement at a star-studded fundraiser organized by Yuvraj Singh in London.

Currently residing in the UK capital, Kohli made a fleeting but memorable visit to the YouWeCan cancer charity evening, just hours after being spotted at Wimbledon, where he stood out in a stylish brown suit.

While members of the Indian team were in attendance at the fundraiser, host Gaurav Kapur couldn't help but comment on Kohli's missing from the team presently, particularly after the batting legend took a break from Test cricket prior to the series against England.

"We miss you on the field man," Kapur quipped to applause from the audience.

Surrounded by cricketing greats like Ravi Shastri, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, and Yuvraj Singh, Kohli retaliated with a smile, hesitating before coming up with a wisecrack about himself: "I coloured my beard two days ago. You know it's time when you are colouring your beard every four days — it's time to relax."

Although he joined late during the function, Kohli could not be denied his moment of glory with his wit and insights.

The ex-Indian skipper also took a moment to reflect on his connection with Ravi Shastri, whose tenure as a coach saw the Indian Test team shine and become globally recognized.

"Honestly, if I wasn't working with him. what happened in Test cricket wouldn't have been possible. The clarity which we had together is very hard to find. It's everything for cricketers to grow in their careers," Kohli said.

He further supplemented, "Even if he had not supported me the way he did. those press conferences where he absorbed the bullets on the front line — things would have been different. I always have respect and regard for him, for being such a huge part of my cricketing life."

Shastri, never one to hold back praise, was equally effusive about Kohli’s impact on the game, calling him the most influential cricketer of the past 15 years.

“You win World Cups and other things, but for him to take red-ball cricket to the next level was something he wanted,” Shastri remarked. “Once he decided his mantra for success, the others had to follow.”

He went on to highlight Kohli’s role in transforming India into a dominant Test side: “If India is playing a level of Test match cricket today, especially the younger generation that played under him, they should thank him. Even world cricket should thank him.”

Shastri also spoke about the monetary domino effect of India's success at Test cricket, stating: "With India playing well in Test cricket, the bucks came in, the BCCI got their chunk and rightly so. They are taking little — they should take more. But he is the most influential of the last decade or so."

From rib-tickling wit to emotional eulogies, the ceremony provided a befitting insight into the legacy of a player who, even post-retirement, still has the ability to dominate the space — and the admiration of cricket legends.