Virat Kohli is far from being just an ordinary cricketer. The star India batter and former captain of the Indian cricket team is widely regarded as one of the finest batters in modern-day cricket with some even regarding him as one of the best to have ever played the game. Such is his aura that even the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), during which the historic decision to include cricket at the Olympics starting from 2028 Los Angeles Olympics was taken, did not conclude without a mention of the cricketer.
Kohli’s popularity and reach as an athlete was put forward as one of the points in favour of cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics. His Instagram following was cited in the IOC session with his incredible cricket records as batter and previously as a captain as well often kept him in the news headlines.
“My friend Virat Kohli has 340 million Social Media followers, making him the third most followed athlete – surpassing combined numbers of LeBron James (NBA basketball star), Tom Brady (American football icon) and Tiger Woods (American golf legend),” Niccolo Campriani, the Sports Director of the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee, said during the IOC session.
“It is a win-win situation forLA28, IOC and cricket community as cricket will be showcased on a global stage, in order to grow it beyond traditional cricketing nations and give it access to untapped communities of athletes and fans,” he added.
Kohli’s Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) also shared a post sharing Campriani’s statement highlighting how Kohli was the face of not just Indian cricket and RCB but the spot of cricket at large.
“KOHLIFIED! The Face and the Brand, not just for RCB or Team India, but for Cricket as a sport too! Sports Director at #LA28 explains why it’s a win-win to have Cricket at the #Olympics. #PlayBold,” RCB’s post read on social media site X (formerly Twitter).
𝐊𝐎𝐇𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐃! ✍️
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 16, 2023
The Face and the Brand, not just for RCB or Team India, but for Cricket as a sport too! 🙌 👑
Sports Director at #LA28 explains why it’s a win-win to have Cricket at the #Olympics. 🤝 #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/x2JJa7ALyZ
Kohli is currently part of the India’s 2023 World Cup squad as he attempts to win his second World Cup with Team India, having won the first in his first attempt to do so in 2011. So far, India have won all three of their matches in the round-robin stage of the tournament happening in India.
