Cricket

Pakistan cricket star Agha Salman has revealed that he sent a text message to Indian batting legend Virat Kohli after a heated on-field exchange between Kohli and former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. This text message later became a viral moment during the Asia Cup 2023.In a recent interview with Islamabad United, Salman shared that he sent a direct message (DM) to Kohli after the incident, expressing his respect for the Indian star. While he declined to disclose the exact contents of the message, Salman emphasized that he holds Kohli in high regard."I have so much respect for Virat Kohli," Salman said. "I don't think there is any cricket fan in the world who doesn't respect him. I texted him, I am not going to tell you the complete details but will just tell you the start. It started with 'Virat Bhai'."Salman explained that he sent the message while watching a match with teammates Abdullah Shafique and Usama Mir. He clarified that the message contained no negative or offensive content."There was nothing [negative] in that message that would make people think I said something bad," Salman said.Unbeknownst to Salman, his text message would later become a viral moment during the Asia Cup 2023. Before Pakistan's match against India, Kohli visited the Pakistan dressing room, where he was greeted by Salman and other players. During the interaction, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan mentioned Salman's text message to Kohli, leading to a humorous exchange between the two players."I mistakenly told Shadab Khan about texting Virat," Salman said. "You have watched the video of me, Shadab and Virat standing together [during Asia Cup 2023], actually, at that time, he [Shadab] had told him [Virat] that he [I] texted him.""We had a bit of laughter after I told Virat that I texted you this, he then told me he may have missed the message as he receives thousands of messages every day. It was all Shadab's doing [telling Kohli]."Salman's text message to Kohli and the subsequent interaction during the Asia Cup 2023 highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect between the two players, despite their on-field rivalry.

The absence of Virat Kohli has cast a long shadow over the India-England Test series, with legendary England pacer James Anderson expressing his disappointment at missing out on a chance to face the Indian batting maestro.Kohli opted out of the series citing personal reasons, having recently welcomed his second child with wife Anushka Sharma. Anderson, who has engaged in several memorable on-field battles with Kohli, lamented the star batter's absence."Yeah, you always want to play against the best players. And it's been a shame that he's not been a part of the series. We have had some great battles over the years," Anderson said on JioCinema.Anderson acknowledged that Kohli's absence may have been a relief for England fans, but he emphasized the importance of facing the world's best players."I guess English fans will be thankful he's not playing because he's such a quality player. But from our point of view you want to test yourself, you want to come up against the best and he's been someone who I've found really challenging to bowl at over the years and it's a shame he's not been playing," Anderson added.India have already secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with the fifth and final Test set to be played in Edgbaston. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return for the final Test, while batter KL Rahul will miss out again due to a quad injury.Despite Kohli's absence, the series has been marked by intense competition and high-quality cricket. England will be looking to salvage some pride in the final Test, while India will aim to complete a memorable series victory.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Akaay, on February 15, 2024. The news was met with immense joy and excitement by fans and well-wishers worldwide. However, the couple's happiness was marred by the emergence of fake social media accounts purporting to belong to their newborn son.As soon as Virat and Anushka announced their son's name, social media users rushed to create accounts on Instagram and other platforms using the combination "Akaay Kohli." Some even began posting stories and content on behalf of the infant, leading to confusion and concern among fans.The situation prompted Virat and Anushka to issue a statement requesting privacy and respect for their family's decision to protect their children's identity on social media. They emphasized that they would not be sharing pictures or making public appearances of their son, just as they had done with their first child, Vamika.Kohli, who is currently on paternity leave from the ongoing Test series against England, expressed his gratitude for the blessings and good wishes received from fans and well-wishers. He also urged them to respect the couple's privacy during this special time in their lives.The couple's decision to shield their children from the public eye is understandable, given the intense scrutiny and media attention that often surrounds celebrity families. They want to ensure that their children have a normal and private upbringing, free from the pressures and expectations that come with being in the spotlight.While some fans may be disappointed that they won't be able to follow Akaay's life on social media, it is important to respect the couple's wishes and understand their reasons for wanting to protect their family's privacy.

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli and his wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, have welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Akaay. The couple announced the joyous news on Instagram on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, sharing a heartwarming photo of their newborn son's tiny hand."With abundant happiness and our hearts full of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15th February, we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika's little brother into this world!" Virat wrote in his Instagram post. "We seek your blessings and good wishes in this beautiful time in our lives. We request you to kindly respect our privacy at this time. Love & Gratitude, Virat & Anushka."The arrival of baby Akaay marks a new chapter in the lives of Virat and Anushka, who are already parents to their daughter Vamika, born in January 2021. The couple has been married since December 2017 and has been open about their desire to have a second child.Virat's decision to opt out of the ongoing Test series against England to be present for the birth of his son has been widely praised by fans and fellow cricketers alike. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also expressed its support for Virat's decision, emphasizing the importance of family and personal commitments.With the birth of baby Akaay, Virat and Anushka have become one of the most celebrated celebrity couples in India. Their fans and well-wishers have flooded social media with congratulatory messages, expressing their joy and excitement for the new addition to their family.