Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli was visibly upset when a fan referred to him as ‘Chokli’ during a practice session. Kohli was shadow practicing in a room filled with teammates when the fan started chanting “Chokli-Chokli,” catching his attention. Kohli immediately turned to face the fan, and his displeasure was evident.
‘Chokli’ is a derogatory term used by trolls on social media, combining Kohli’s surname with ‘choking,’ implying that he fails in crucial matches. This term gained popularity after India’s elimination from the 2019 World Cup, where Kohli was dismissed for 1 run. Similar dismissals in the 2015 World Cup semifinal and the 2017 Champions Trophy final contributed to this nickname.
Someone called Virat Kohli a chokli in front of him in the dressing room of Colombo ground in Sri Lanka, after which Virat got angry.😭😭
No way now Lankan fan’s also owning Virat Kohli 🙏😹😹😹 pic.twitter.com/ru4KbRUfBX
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) July 31, 2024
Unhappy with the taunt, Kohli responded by saying, “Not here.”
Virat Kohli arrived in Sri Lanka on Monday, but his first practice session was canceled due to rain. On Tuesday, he had his first net session since the T20 World Cup final. While official videos from the practice are yet to be released, fan-recorded clips on social media showed Kohli in good form.
Kohli spent the past month in London with his wife Anushka Sharma and their children, Vamika and Akaay. They were seen attending a kirtan and visiting a flower shop in the city. Kohli’s first ODI match since the 2023 World Cup final is scheduled for Friday against Sri Lanka. He had announced his retirement from T20 internationals after a stellar performance in the T20 World Cup.
With the 2025 Champions Trophy seven months away, Kohli is expected to be a key player for India. He has an impressive record against Sri Lanka, scoring 2595 runs in 25 ODIs at an average of 63.26, including 10 centuries. In Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, Kohli has scored 644 runs in 11 ODIs, boasting an average of 107.3, including four centuries. His recent performance at the venue includes an unbeaten 122 against Pakistan in the 2023 Asia Cup, leading India to a 228-run victory.
Virat Kohli is set to bring his best game against Sri Lanka as he aims for another ICC trophy, starting with the upcoming ODI series.
