Those who have had the opportunity to witness Virat Kohli engage with his close friends and family understand how profoundly he cherishes relationships. He is extremely protective, highly affectionate, and completely dedicated—similar to his philosophy toward cricket. Once he establishes a connection, it stays strong, even if he cannot see them frequently. However, whenever he does meet, he makes sure those interactions are significant.
A prime illustration of this was his reunion with his longtime friend, Shavez, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during a Ranji Trophy game last month.
Making a return to domestic cricket after more than 12 years, Kohli attracted a huge crowd eager to witness him bat. Yet, amidst the anticipation, he took the opportunity to engage with Shavez and his son Kabir, giving cricketing advice, sharing laughter, and ensuring they felt valued. This was in spite of the immense pressure he was under to perform following a series of disappointing scores in Australia. Nevertheless, his cheerful attitude while conversing with his old friend, young Delhi cricketers, and even the coaching staff demonstrated how he has managed to distinguish his personal life from his on-field obstacles.
Over the years, Kohli has perfected the skill of keeping cricket-related pressures from invading his personal life. Given all he has achieved, this ability now appears instinctive.
Following an unsatisfactory outing in his eagerly awaited Ranji Trophy comeback, Kohli missed the initial ODI against England due to a knee injury. He returned in the second match at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, batting at No. 3 after an explosive opening by Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. The stadium was buzzing with excitement, hoping for a classic Kohli performance. However, fate intervened—he edged an Adil Rashid delivery and was out for merely 5 runs.
Another match. Another disappointing score. Did it impact Kohli? Certainly. Did he display it? He did not.
The day following the second ODI, the Indian team arrived at Bhubaneswar airport to catch a flight to Ahmedabad for the series’ concluding match before the Champions Trophy. As Kohli approached the check-in area under strict security, he suddenly spotted someone in the crowd. His face brightened with a broad smile. Breaking through the security, he leaned in, hugged a woman, exchanged a few words, and continued on his path.
Virat Kohli met a lady (close relative) at Bhubaneswar airport🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/r71Du0Uccf
— 𝙒𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣🥂 (@wrognxvirat) February 10, 2025
The footage of Kohli’s embrace quickly became viral, turning the internet abuzz with inquiries.
Who was the woman? Was she merely a fortunate fan? Or someone he knew personally? The internet has been inundated with conjecture ever since.
Based on Kohli’s expressions and body language, it appeared clear that he recognized her and that she wasn’t just an ordinary fan. Although TDG was unable to independently verify her identity, a fan page of the former India captain indicated that she was a close relative.
Meanwhile, Team India reached Ahmedabad late Monday evening. With the series already clinched at 2-1, the last ODI on Wednesday is personally important for Kohli, as he aims to find his form again before traveling to Dubai for the Champions Trophy.
