Is Virat Kohli set to join English county Middlesex?

The English county side Middlesex has expressed strong interest in signing star Indian batter Virat Kohli following his retirement from Test cricket. Kohli, who hung up his boots after an illustrious red-ball career on May 12, could be looking for a new challenge in England’s County Championship.

Kohli’s retirement announcement came as a shock to many. The 36-year-old ended his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His captaincy stint saw him register 40 wins in 68 Tests, becoming India's most successful red-ball skipper.

The Middlesex County Cricket Club, based at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, is reportedly looking to bring Kohli on board. Alan Coleman, the club’s Director of Cricket, confirmed that discussions are around the corner.

"Virat Kohli is the most iconic player of his generation, so of course, we are interested in having that conversation," Coleman was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Middlesex eye Kohli-Williamson partnership

Middlesex has a history of attracting global stars, with Kohli’s former RCB teammate AB de Villiers playing for them in the 2019 T20 Blast and Kane Williamson joining for the latter half of the current season. Both signings were in collaboration with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

While Kohli remains unavailable for formats like the T20 Blast or The Hundred due to his central contract with the BCCI, he is eligible to participate in the County Championship or the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. If a deal is made, fans could witness a middle-order pairing of Kohli and Williamson and potentially witness the famous rivalry with James Anderson during Middlesex’s clash with Lancashire at Old Trafford. Kohli was previously set to play for Surrey in 2018 but was forced to withdraw due to a neck injury.