Virat Kohli returned to India on Tuesday after spending nearly four months abroad, ahead of the national team's departure for the ODI leg of their white-ball tour of Australia. The former Indian captain was spotted at the New Delhi airport but didn’t pause for selfies or fan interactions, making a swift exit to join the squad.

Kohli had travelled to London with his wife, Anushka Sharma, and their two children immediately after the conclusion of the IPL 2025 season. The trip came on the back of a historic campaign in which Kohli finally lifted the IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bangalore, ending a long wait for both him and the franchise. Following the season, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May and subsequently opted out of India’s summer tour of England.

The Indian team is set to leave for Australia in two groups on October 15, according to a BCCI official. Travel logistics, including the availability of business-class tickets, will determine the split. The team will fly to Perth, which hosts the opening ODI against Australia on October 19.

The series marks Kohli's return to international cricket for the first time since the Champions Trophy earlier this year. His comeback arrives at a crucial point in his career, amid growing speculation about his long-term future with the national team. Selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar recently stirred debate when he refrained from confirming Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s places in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plans, despite picking them for this Australia tour.

That ambiguity led to widespread chatter that this series could be a “perform or perish” moment for the veteran duo. However, newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill moved quickly to dismiss such notions, asserting during a media interaction that both Kohli and Rohit are vital to India’s 2027 World Cup ambitions due to their experience and proven match-winning ability.

Still, concerns remain within the selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir's camp regarding the duo's ability to maintain form and fitness over the next two years. To address these concerns, both players are likely to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December. For Kohli, it would be his first appearance in the domestic List A tournament since 2009, while Rohit last played in 2018.

Their potential return to domestic cricket could be pivotal—not just in silencing critics, but in laying the groundwork for one last World Cup run.