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Finding Peace After the Pitch: Kohli and Anushka's Spiritual Visit Post-Retirement
What do you do when one chapter of your life closes and another begins? For Virat Kohli, the answer was clear. Just a day after hanging up his Test cricket boots, India's cricket icon and his wife, Bollywood star Anushka Sharma, made their way to Vrindavan. Their destination wasn't a luxury retreat or a high-profile event, but the humble ashram of Premanand Ji Maharaj, seeking guidance at what's clearly a pivotal moment in their lives.
Interestingly, this wasn't a first-time visit. The power couple has developed something of a spiritual connection with Premanand Ji, having sought his wisdom twice before – in January 2023 and again earlier this year. There's something touching about celebrities of their stature repeatedly returning to the same spiritual mentor, isn't there?
A candid video captured during their visit shows a beautifully simple moment. Premanand Ji, dressed in his signature yellow robes, gently asks Kohli, "Prasanna ho?" (Are you happy?). Kohli responds with a modest smile, "Ji, abhi thik hain" (Yes, I'm okay now). It's not the polished PR-perfect exchange we often see from celebrities – just a genuine moment between a seeker and guide.
Words of Wisdom from an Unlikely Cricket Coach
This was no quick blessing-and-go visit. Kohli and Anushka spent over three hours at the ashram, deeply engaged in conversation with the Maharaj. Can you imagine what insights might unfold in three hours with a spiritual master while the world outside has no idea where you've disappeared to?
Premanand Ji didn't waste the opportunity to share some profound wisdom that seems especially relevant to someone who's just stepped away from the glaring spotlight of international cricket:
- "Increasing wealth or fame is not considered God's true grace. God's grace is there when the inner thinking changes." How fitting for someone who's achieved every material success in his field but might now be searching for something deeper.
- "When God blesses, the saints accompany you. And the second grace is that adverse circumstances come in life." Perhaps a nod to the challenges that even someone with Kohli's stellar career has faced – and how those difficulties shape us.
- "He shows a path from within... Without difficulties, the attachment to this world does not end." There's something universal here – how our toughest moments often lead to our greatest growth.
- "Chant the name of God happily." Simple advice, yet profound in its suggestion that joy can be found in spiritual practice.
Anushka, ever thoughtful, asked about the effectiveness of chanting God's name – a question many spiritual seekers have wondered. Premanand Ji didn't offer philosophical theory but something more compelling: his own life experience as proof of its power.
Beyond the Boundary: Kohli's New Innings
The timing of this visit speaks volumes. Kohli's recent farewell to Test cricket wasn't just a sports headline – it was the end of a 14-year journey that defined much of his adult life. His heartfelt Instagram post thanked fans and teammates, but between the lines, you could sense the emotional weight of closing such a significant chapter.
For an athlete who's lived under constant scrutiny, pressure, and expectations, what comes next? This pilgrimage to Vrindavan feels less like a random spiritual excursion and more like someone actively seeking direction for the road ahead.
There's something deeply human about this. Even when you've conquered the world's cricket stadiums, broken countless records, and earned global adoration, you still search for meaning beyond the boundaries – literally and figuratively.
Celebrities in Search of Something Real
What makes this story resonate is how it cuts through the glossy veneer we typically associate with celebrity. Here are two of India's biggest stars, sitting cross-legged on an ashram floor, listening intently to wisdom about detachment from material success – the very thing that made them famous.
It reminds us that beneath the Instagram filters and highlight reels, even the most celebrated figures grapple with life's big questions: What brings true happiness? What matters when the cheering stops? Where do I go from here?
For Kohli and Anushka, that search has led them repeatedly to this humble ashram, suggesting they've found something authentic in Premanand Ji's guidance that the spotlight and stadium roars couldn't provide.
Finding Your Own Path
We may not all retire from international cricket or star in blockbuster films, but transitions touch every life. Maybe that's why this story strikes a chord – it's about that universal human need for guidance when standing at life's crossroads.
Virat and Anushka's spiritual journey offers a gentle reminder that it's okay to seek wisdom beyond your familiar world, to admit you don't have all the answers, and to look for meaning beyond the achievements that others celebrate.
As Kohli steps into his post-Test cricket life with Anushka by his side, their quiet hours at Premanand Ji's ashram suggest they're preparing for something more than just a change in daily routine – perhaps a deeper shift in how they define success, happiness, and purpose. And isn't that a journey we're all on, in our own way?
