Virat Kohli’s white-bearded look sparks ODI retirement speculation
London: Former Team India skipper Virat Kohli has set social media abuzz after a recent picture showing him with a visibly white beard went viral. The photograph, taken with a man identified as Shash Patel in London, quickly caught the attention of fans, many of whom speculated whether the cricket star was hinting at an impending retirement from One Day Internationals.
Kohli’s appearance comes weeks after his presence at an event hosted by Yuvraj Singh on July 10, where he jokingly remarked about dyeing his beard every few days while discussing his Test retirement decision. Fans have expressed concern over his ODI future, citing his age and the early greying of his beard, something he shares with former captain MS Dhoni.
This is not the first time Kohli’s salt-and-pepper look has gone viral. In July 2023, a photo with wife Anushka Sharma also drew attention to his greying facial hair.
Kohli retired from T20Is last year after India’s World Cup triumph in the West Indies, and in May 2025, he stunned the cricket world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket after 14 years. His comeback to the field was expected this month, but the postponement of India’s Bangladesh tour has delayed his return.
The star batter is now expected to rejoin the Indian squad in October for a limited-overs tour of Australia, which will feature three ODIs and five T20Is.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
ALSO READ: BJP accuses Karnataka govt of 'failing' to prevent noise pollution caused by 'azaan'
He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
