Virat Kohli’s potential exit from Test cricket is sending ripples beyond the boundary ropes—not just in terms of cricketing legacy, but also in the world of brand endorsements and celebrity culture. Valued at nearly Rs13 billion, the “Virushka” brand—born from the powerhouse pairing of Kohli and Bollywood star Anushka Sharma—may face a shift in public spotlight and marketability.
Kohli, the current Indian cricket icon, introduced unrivaled charisma and commercial firepower to the sport. Coupled with Anushka Sharma’s Bollywood glamour, the couple was India’s ideal celebrity pair, regularly appearing on stadium box scenarios, social posts gone viral, and brand marketing campaigns. Their presence infused sports, entertainment, and luxury, and with it, a story that both fans and marketers couldn’t ignore.
But with Kohli’s Test retirement looming, the buzz surrounding his on-field heroics—and by extension, Virushka’s media magnetism—may begin to fade. Test matches, especially in India, hold a unique cultural and emotional value. Kohli’s dominance in whites had long anchored his gravitas, making Anushka’s stadium appearances symbolic of support, elegance, and shared legacy.
Though Virat and Anushka still wield enormous individual and combined clout across brands, cinema, and social media, Kohli’s possible Test retirement could signal the end of an era—one in which cricket, cinema, and celebrity blended so effortlessly. For some fans, it’s not merely the departure of a cricketer, but the fading of a spectacle that was more than sport.
