Virat Kohli wishes Saina Nehwal on ‘well-deserved’ retirement from Badminton

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli extended his heartfelt wishes to 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist shuttler Saina Nehwal, who recently announced her retirement from professional badminton, citing that her body could no longer cope with the physical demands of the sport.

Saina last featured in a competitive match at the Singapore Open in 2023 but had not formally announced her retirement at the time. Both Kohli and Saina have been dominant forces in their respective sports and have inspired millions, earning global admiration for their achievements and longevity at the highest level.

“Congratulations @NSaina on a legendary career that put Indian badminton on the world stage. Wishing you a happy, fulfilling and well-deserved retirement. India is proud.," Kohli wrote on X.

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Speaking about Kohli, he has been seen in limited action for the national team since his retirement from T20 Internationals and Test cricket. Following the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Kohli has featured in three ODI series for India and has continued to make a strong impact in the 50-over format. During this period, he has scored three centuries and three half-centuries.

Kohli’s ODI return began with the series against Australia, where he endured a tough start by registering two ducks before bouncing back with a composed half-century in the final match. He then found sublime form at home against South Africa, scoring two consecutive centuries and a half-century. His outstanding performances earned him the Player of the Series award as India dominated the contest.

Most recently, Kohli played against New Zealand, where he scored one half-century and one century. Despite his individual brilliance, India lost the ODI series 1-2. Nevertheless, Kohli’s form remained one of the major positives for the team.

Across formats, Kohli has been a pillar of Indian cricket. He has amassed 9,230 runs in Tests, 14,797 runs in ODIs, and 4,188 runs in T20Is, maintaining an average above 45 in all three formats. With 85 international centuries, Kohli is the second-highest century scorer in world cricket, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 hundreds. Kohli is expected to return to action for India on July 14 in a three-match ODI series against England in England.