Cricket

Virat Kohli, the legendary Indian cricketer, has been spotted in London with his family, enjoying a break from the hectic cricket schedule. The family outing, which included his wife Anushka Sharma, daughter Vamika, and son Akaay, marked the first public appearance of their seven-month-old son.Kohli's trip to London came after a successful T20 World Cup campaign, where he played a crucial role in India's victory. Despite a packed schedule, including a celebratory parade and a meeting with the Prime Minister, Kohli prioritized spending quality time with his family.The family was captured during a casual outing at a local flower shop. Kohli was seen cradling Akaay, while Anushka and Vamika stood by his side. The couple opted for casual attire, with Anushka in a white top and shorts, and Kohli in a relaxed outfit.Kohli's decision to take a break from cricket highlights his commitment to balancing his professional and personal life. The cricketer has often spoken about the importance of family and the need to create memories with his loved ones.Recent reports suggest that Kohli, along with teammate Rohit Sharma, may return for the upcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka. However, Kohli is expected to participate in the forthcoming home series, featuring Test matches against New Zealand and Bangladesh.Beyond cricket, Kohli and Anushka have also showcased their spiritual side. The couple attended a kirtan event led by Krishna Das at Union Chapel, demonstrating their involvement in spiritual practices.Kohli's family outing in London has garnered significant attention from fans and media alike. The cricketer's dedication to both his sport and his family has earned him widespread admiration. As he prepares for the upcoming cricket season, Kohli's fans will eagerly await his return to the field, while also celebrating his role as a loving husband and father.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of the most celebrated cricketers of the modern era, have received high praise from former Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews. Mathews hailed them as "modern-day greats" and "legends of the game."Mathews recalled his experiences playing against Rohit Sharma from their Under-19 days, acknowledging Rohit's exceptional talent and potential from an early age. He also commended Virat Kohli for taking over the mantle from Rohit and delivering outstanding performances for India for over a decade and a half."I have played against Rohit from Under-19s. I have seen from those days what he is capable of. And Virat took over after Rohit from Under-19s. Virat has been amazing for India for over a decade and a half. Both of them are amazing players, modern-day greats, and legends of the game. And I wish them all the very best," Mathews said in an interaction on Star Sports.Another Sri Lankan veteran, Dinesh Chandimal, shared his perspective on Rohit and Kohli's retirement from T20I cricket after India's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup."I think it was the right time to retire (from T20Is) after winning the World Cup. As a senior player, you wish to have that. So I think they made the right decision. It's going to take some time to fill their shoes because they have so much experience playing T20 cricket especially. India have so much young talent. So, I am sure they will take their hands up and do their performance," Chandimal stated.Thisara Perera, who had the opportunity to play alongside Rohit Sharma at the Mumbai Indians franchise, provided insights into Rohit's personality off the field."I played with Rohit when I played in Mumbai Indians. He is a really good guy. As a human being, he is really nice because he always shares his thoughts with local guys and even overseas players," Perera added.The 2024 T20 World Cup marked the culmination of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's illustrious T20I careers. Rohit led India's batting charge, amassing 257 runs and emerging as the team's highest scorer, while Kohli played a pivotal role with a match-winning knock of 76 runs in the final against South Africa, earning him the Player of the Match award.As India prepare to face Sri Lanka in an upcoming limited-overs series, there is speculation that Kohli and Rohit could potentially make a comeback for these matches.

Virat Kohli Surges to Top of India's Most Valued Celebrities, Surpassing Bollywood StarsIndian cricket legend Virat Kohli has ascended to the pinnacle of India's most valuable celebrities, eclipsing Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Ranveer Singh. According to Kroll's Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2023, Kohli's brand value has skyrocketed by 29% to an astounding $227.9 million.This remarkable surge has propelled Kohli to the top spot on the list, dethroning Shah Rukh Khan, who previously held the position. The report highlights the growing importance of celebrity endorsements, with the top 20 celebrities experiencing a 14.2% increase in brand endorsements compared to the previous year.Kohli's dominance in the endorsement landscape is evident, with his brand value far exceeding that of his closest rivals. Ranveer Singh, with a brand value of $203.1 million, occupies the second rank, while Shah Rukh Khan has made significant strides to secure the third position with a brand value of $120.7 million.Akshay Kumar remains a formidable force in the industry, holding onto the fourth spot with a brand value of $111.7 million. Alia Bhatt continues to be a prominent figure, maintaining her fifth position with a brand value of $101.1 million.The report also sheds light on the growing influence of television and digital platforms for advertising purposes, contributing to the increased demand for celebrity endorsements. Kohli's dominance in both traditional and digital media has played a significant role in his rise to the top.

Rohit Sharma, India's ODI captain, is set to return to action in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, according to a report by Hindustan Times. Earlier speculations suggested that Sharma, along with Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, would miss the entire tour. However, the report claims that Sharma will be back in action, while Kohli and Bumrah will enjoy an extended leave after a grueling schedule.The series against Sri Lanka will be India's first assignment under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. It will also be a crucial preparation for the Champions Trophy 2025, with India playing only six ODIs before the tournament. Sharma's involvement in the series is seen as a significant step in India's preparations.Meanwhile, the T20I captaincy remains a topic of discussion. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav have emerged as strong contenders, but media reports suggest that Yadav has an advantage due to concerns over Pandya's fitness.Yadav has emerged as a dark horse to become India's T20 captain until the 2026 World Cup. He captained India in eight T20Is against Australia and South Africa last year and is reportedly the preferred choice of Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar.Pandya, who was India's T20 vice-captain under Sharma, will take a break during the ODI series against Sri Lanka due to personal reasons. He is expected to lead the side in the T20Is, which will run from July 27 to 30 in Pallekele. The ODIs will follow from August 2 to 7 in Colombo.The squad for the series is expected to be announced in the next couple of days.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal has publicly expressed his admiration and respect for former Indian captain Virat Kohli, following controversial allegations made by ex-leg spinner Amit Mishra.Mishra had claimed that Kohli's aggressive nature has alienated him from others, including Afghanistan cricketer Naveen-ul-Haq, during an IPL match between RCB and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, Dayal's social media post suggests a different perspective.In an Instagram post, Dayal shared a photo with Kohli, captioning it, "It's an honor to stand beside you, bhaiya @virat.kohli." He also shared the post on his Instagram story, using audio from Kohli's final game as RCB captain, where Kohli expressed his unwavering commitment to the franchise.Mishra's allegations have sparked debate about Kohli's leadership style and personal conduct. However, Dayal's message of support indicates that Kohli still commands respect within the RCB team.Meanwhile, Kohli has been enjoying a break after India's triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He was recently spotted attending a kirtan in London with his wife, Anushka Sharma.Kohli's future with the Indian team remains uncertain, but his legacy as one of the greatest cricketers of all time is secure. His leadership and passion have inspired countless young players, including Yash Dayal.

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has hailed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as "irreplaceable" in the Indian team across all formats, comparing them to legendary players Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni.Kohli and Sharma recently announced their retirements from Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket, marking the end of an era for Indian cricket. Kohli, who made his T20I debut in 2010, has been a prolific run-scorer in the format, amassing 4188 runs in 125 matches. Sharma, who made his T20I debut in 2007, has been even more successful, becoming the format's highest scorer with 4231 runs in 159 matches.Dev, who led India to victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, believes that Kohli and Sharma have made an immense contribution to Indian cricket. "No one can take Virat and Rohit's place in the Indian team in any format," he said. "They have been a huge servant of Indian cricket and it was a happy farewell for them."Dev praised Kohli's relentless dedication and passion for the game, which has made him one of the most successful batsmen in the world. He also acknowledged Sharma's leadership qualities, which have helped India win several major tournaments, including the 2022 T20 World Cup."The stature that Virat has made of himself in all formats, he will surely be missed in T20Is," Dev said. "Both are as same as Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. They are irreplaceable."Kohli and Sharma's retirements from T20I cricket will leave a void in the Indian team, but Dev is confident that the team will continue to be successful in the future. "We have a lot of young talent coming through," he said. "I am sure that they will step up and fill the void left by Virat and Rohit."

Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has been embroiled in a social media storm following controversial comments made by veteran spinner Amit Mishra. Mishra's remarks, made during a podcast, sparked a debate about Kohli's character and behavior.Mishra alleged that Kohli has undergone a transformation due to "fame and power," accusing him of abusing his Lucknow Super Giants teammates during an IPL 2023 match. However, Kohli's supporters have vehemently defended him, citing his enduring camaraderie with former teammates like Ishant Sharma.Amidst the online discourse, an old video from India's 2014 tour of Australia has resurfaced. In the series, Kohli became a target for the Australian team, particularly Mitchell Johnson, with whom he engaged in heated verbal exchanges.When asked about these confrontations in a press conference, Kohli asserted that his primary focus was on playing cricket, not earning respect. "I am out here to play cricket, not to earn anyone's respect. As long as I'm scoring runs, I'm happy with it," he stated.Kohli further emphasized that he did not care about the opinions of those who disrespected him. "I don't really care what they think as far as respecting me or me respecting them. I've got a nice friendship with a few of them. But someone who says anything that comes to his mouth, I don't respect," he said.Mishra's comments have reignited the debate about Kohli's personality and leadership style. Some have questioned whether his success has led to a change in his demeanor, while others have defended his competitive nature and unwavering determination.The controversy has also highlighted the importance of respect in sportsmanship. Kohli's assertion that he does not play for respect has sparked discussions about the role of mutual respect in fostering a healthy and competitive environment on the field.

With India's ODI series against Sri Lanka approaching, the availability of senior players remains uncertain. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah have reportedly requested an extended break after the T20 World Cup, but new head coach Gautam Gambhir is opposed to this proposal.Hardik Pandya has also joined the list of unavailable players, citing personal reasons. However, Gambhir is keen on Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah participating in the ODI series. He has reportedly conveyed to the trio that the team will have a significant break after the Sri Lanka assignment, and he expects them to be available.The players have yet to respond to Gambhir's plea. Rohit and Kohli have already taken breaks and traveled abroad with their families. India's ODI series against Sri Lanka begins on August 2 and concludes on August 7. The team will then face England in an ODI series in February 2024.The gap between these series is five months, providing ample time for the senior players to rest and recover. After the England series, India will participate in the Champions Trophy, which is expected to be held in Pakistan, the UAE, or Sri Lanka.Gambhir's stance on the availability of senior players reflects his desire to build a strong and competitive ODI team. He believes that the experience and leadership of Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah are crucial for the team's success.The players' decision to prioritize personal commitments over national duty has sparked debate among fans and experts. Some argue that the players deserve a break after a grueling schedule, while others believe that they should make themselves available for the country whenever possible.Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to participate in the ODI series rests with the players. However, Gambhir's clear message to the trio indicates that he expects them to prioritize the team's needs.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season witnessed a heated on-field clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore's Virat Kohli and Lucknow Super Giants' Naveen-ul-Haq. The incident escalated beyond the match, involving Lucknow coach Gautam Gambhir and sparking a heated argument that required intervention from teammates.According to Lucknow spinner Amit Mishra, the altercation stemmed from an incident in Bengaluru, where Gambhir made a "finger on mouth" gesture towards the home crowd. Mishra believes Kohli took offense to this gesture and began verbally abusing LSG players in their subsequent encounter.Mishra expressed that Kohli could have avoided certain actions, but chose not to. He claims that Kohli verbally attacked Kyle Myers and Naveen-ul-Haq, even during their bowling spells. Mishra attempted to intervene, but Kohli directed him to address Naveen instead.The situation worsened after the match, as Kohli continued to abuse Naveen during the customary handshakes. Gambhir intervened, questioning why Kohli was reigniting the issue after the game had concluded. Mishra intervened to separate Gambhir, but Naveen later reported that Kohli had resumed his verbal attacks.Mishra believes that while Kohli and Naveen may have publicly reconciled, the incident has likely damaged their relationship. He questions whether Naveen will ever truly respect Kohli again, and expresses concern about the impact on younger players who witnessed the altercation.