Middlesex confirm interest in ‘iconic player of his generation’ Virat Kohli

[vvvslaxman]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/may/17/middlesex-confirm-interest-in-virat-kohli-cricket

 

Virat Kohli could yet be seen batting in England once more after Middlesex confirmed they are keen to lure India’s recently retired galáctico to Lord’s. The 36-year-old called time on his stellar Test career at the start of the week, ruling himself out of the five-Test series in England that begins at Headingley next month. But notably his statement said nothing about drawing a line through first-class cricket.

Middlesex have form when it comes to using Lord’s as a pull for star overseas talent, having signed South Africa’s AB de Villiers for the T20 Blast in 2019 and attracted New Zealand’s Kane Williamson over for the second half of this season. Both deals came about in collaboration with MCC – Williamson will also play for London Spirit – and officials there have indicated they would be happy to similarly split the cost of any deal for Kohli. There is a belief that, as someone steeped in the sport’s history, Kohli is keen to play at the Home of Cricket again.

 

Were Kohli to play that final block of red-ball cricket, which also includes a game against Lancashire at Old Trafford and thus a possible reunion with Jimmy Anderson, it would form something of a fantasy middle-order partnership with Williamson. Even at the end of the season, Lord’s would expect this to a draw a bumper crowd.

 

Kohli has a home in London and has stated his interest in playing in the County Championship, signing for Surrey before India’s tour of England in 2018. A neck injury saw the deal fall through but he went on to enjoy a stellar series and be named one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year

 

Still contracted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and playing in the Indian Premier League, Kohli is barred from featuring in domestic T20 cricket overseas, ruling him out of the Blast and the Hundred. But, as with other Indian players, he could play in the County Championship or the Metro Bank Cup.

Promotion-chasing Middlesex do not play at Lord’s during the mid-summer block of championship matches and have just one of their Metro Bank Cup fixtures there in August. They then return in September for Division Two games against Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

Edited May 18, 2025 by vvvslaxman

[Ultimate_Game]

Yup, let him play County cricket.

[diga]

division two of first class cricket ? might do well 

[Gollum]

Kohli never cared for domestic when he was representing India. Now they think he'll play 2nd division county?

[Vickydev]

Getting interest from people of middle sex is what Virat worked all his life for

[nevada]

10 hours ago, Gollum said:

Kohli never cared for domestic when he was representing India. Now they think he'll play 2nd division county?

You never know! He might do it to curry favour with his adopted home country. 

[Ultimate_Game]

11 hours ago, Gollum said:

Kohli never cared for domestic when he was representing India. Now they think he'll play 2nd division county?

 

I wouldn't put it past Kohli to play county cricket though he didn't play Ranji since 2012

[Gollum]

2 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

I wouldn't put it past Kohli to play county cricket though he didn't play Ranji since 2012

That'll be like taking a piss on Indian cricket. Not a good look. 

[Ultimate_Game]

2 minutes ago, Gollum said:

That'll be like taking a piss on Indian cricket. Not a good look. 

 

It'll say a lot more about Kohli than India TBH, i.e. that he'll bend over backwards for goras.

[neel roy]

If Kohli wants to have match practice to be fit for 2027 odi wcup he has only IPL. The rest of the year he will be in Engggland.. now for 10 months he cant just do gym and eat avocados.. he has to have some match practice.. so what are the options:

 

T20 Blast and 100 : Not possible as India wont allow

 

Metro Bank Odi cup ( UK s Vijay Hazare)  : This is one good option. This is where Prithvi Shaw scored a double ton sometime ago.

 

County Cricket : Another option but its red ball and thats what Middlesex wants him for. Not sure if Virat wants to play red ball again

 

I dont think he ll come back and play Vijay Hazare..

 

[vvvslaxman]

It comes down to how commercial it is going to be. Playing Ranji Trophy won't help you earn any money. Instead he would post an instagram post and make more money.

[tapandrun]

Think it would be same kind of thing that sanga did, may be play 1-2 season. Get membership of the club.

Use that membership for networking and connections. A lot of high profile ppl are connected to such clubs.