Virat Kohli could yet be seen batting in England once more, as Middlesex have expressed strong interest in signing the recently retired India star for some of their upcoming domestic fixtures. The 36-year-old ended his illustrious Test career earlier this week, stepping away from the five-Test series in England that is set to begin next month. However, notably, Kohli’s retirement statement did not exclude the possibility of playing first-class cricket in other formats or leagues, leaving the door open for a county stint.
Middlesex, who play their home matches at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, have a track record of attracting top overseas talent for short-term deals. Their recent signings include South Africa’s AB de Villiers for the T20 Blast in 2019 and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, who joined them for the second half of this season. Both these moves were made in partnership with the MCC, which owns Lord’s, and officials have indicated a willingness to share the financial responsibilities should they secure Kohli’s signature. Given Kohli’s deep appreciation for cricket history and his known desire to play at Lord’s, there is genuine optimism on both sides that this opportunity could materialize.
Alan Coleman, Middlesex’s director of cricket, underlined the significance of such a signing, describing Kohli as “the most iconic player of his generation” and expressing the club’s clear interest in opening discussions. Kohli remains under contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is an active player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, restrictions from the BCCI prevent him from participating in overseas domestic T20 competitions like the Blast or The Hundred, both of which have limited-overs formats. This means that Kohli’s involvement would be limited to first-class formats such as the County Championship or the newly introduced Metro Bank Cup.
Middlesex’s ambitions are high this season as they seek promotion in the Championship. However, their schedule presents some challenges as they do not host any County Championship matches at Lord’s during the mid-summer block when Kohli might be available. They do have just one Metro Bank Cup match at Lord’s in August, followed by a return to the ground in September for Division Two Championship games against Derbyshire and Gloucestershire. If Kohli were to participate in these matches, it could provide a rare and memorable spectacle for fans, with the chance to see a lineup featuring him alongside Williamson, forming a formidable middle order.
One exciting prospect would be Kohli’s potential reunion with England’s veteran pacer Jimmy Anderson in the match against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Such a fixture would undoubtedly generate significant buzz and attract large crowds, particularly given Kohli’s status and his popularity among cricket fans worldwide.
Kohli has a personal connection to London, owning a home in the city, and he has publicly expressed an interest in playing in the County Championship before. Back in 2018, he signed a deal to join Surrey ahead of India’s tour of England, but a neck injury prevented him from featuring. Despite missing out on that opportunity, Kohli enjoyed an outstanding Test series on that tour and was subsequently named one of Wisden’s five Cricketers of the Year.
A potential stint in the English county circuit would offer Kohli a chance to stay in form in the red-ball game while providing Middlesex with a marquee player capable of drawing fans and elevating their campaign. It would also be a unique opportunity for cricket supporters to witness one of the sport’s all-time greats competing at the historic Lord’s ground once again.
As the summer approaches, all eyes will be on Middlesex and Kohli to see if this tantalizing prospect comes to fruition, potentially adding a thrilling new chapter to Kohli’s cricketing journey outside international Test cricket.
