Preity Zinta reveals she watched Test cricket mainly for Virat Kohli, pens sweet message: ‘He infused so much passion..’

Virat Kohli’s sudden retirement from Test cricket on 12 May left fans emotional and heartbroken. The legendary Indian cricketer, known for his passion and fire on the field, brought a whole new energy to the game’s longest format. As tributes poured in from around the world, Bollywood star and an IPL team co-owner, Preity Zinta, added her voice to the mix, and her words struck a chord with many.


Preity’s emotional message wins hearts
During a recent AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on X (formerly Twitter), Preity was asked about Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket. Her reply was honest, heartfelt and full of admiration.

“I saw Test cricket mainly for Virat,” she wrote. “He infused so much passion and so much character into the game with his competitiveness and the desire to excel. I don’t think Test cricket will ever be the same again. I wish him well and all the best for his future. Our current Indian players will have big shoes to fill, because the likes of Virat, Rohit, and Ashwin are not playing Test cricket anymore.”


It didn’t take long for fans to agree. One commented, “So true. Watching Test cricket during Virat’s era was a different experience, full of fire and pride.” Another added, “Even for us, he filled Test cricket with passion, energy, and what not.” A third simply said, “Same. It won’t be the same again.”
Anushka Sharma’s touching post
While fans and celebs poured in their wishes for Kohli, one post stood out, that was from his wife and actress Anushka Sharma. She shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, capturing the emotional journey behind Kohli’s cricket career.

She 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... Somehow, I always imagined you’d retire from international cricket in whites — but you’ve always followed your heart.”

What’s next for Preity?
Preity Zinta is gearing up for something big. She’s returning to the silver screen with the film 'Lahore 1947', directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The period drama also stars Sunny Deol, Ali Fazal and Shabana Azmi.