Virat Kohli delivered a crucial performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their opening match of IPL 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite the limited appearance, Kohli looks in great touch. After the last ODI this year, he took a break and spent time in England with his family. Because of this, many social media users are talking and counting him as an overseas player in the IPL.
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What Exactly Happened?
There was a comment from various users that Kohli is an overseas player. Responding to that, in a normal interview of RCB, he replied to the host, Danish Sait, known as Mr Nags.
The question was, “People are saying RCB are playing five overseas players, I don’t understand what they are saying, actually.”
Kohli responded with a small smile on his face and said, “I don’t know, why are you asking me? Ask the overseas players. I am not an overseas player. Am I an overseas player?”
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The smile on his face made it clear that he remains firmly rooted as an Indian player. Currently, he is a part of India’s ODI team.
Kohli also talked about what victory means to him. He said, “Victory is the accumulation of hard work, all the sacrifices you’ve made, to be committed to the sport. It all comes together as a form of assurance, a reward, to know that you haven’t wasted your time. A lot of people learn from losses, but a lot of people can get very disheartened as well. So when you win after a lot of hard work, it makes you feel a sense of justice to the work that you put in, and also gives you motivation to work harder.”
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Kohli in London: Fans’ Emotional Connection Explained
Many fans share a deep emotional bond with Virat Kohli and see him as more than just a cricketer. Some fans say that a little sense of distance may reduce their connection to India’s everyday life.
On the other hand, various people support him every time, no matter where he lives.
IPL Eligibility Rules Explained: Citizenship vs Public Confusion
IPL rules are very clear. If the player holds Indian citizenship, it is considered Indian. On the other hand, if the player doesn’t have Indian citizenship, he is treated as an overseas player, regardless of where he lives.
In the case of Virat Kohli, he still has Indian citizenship and continues to represent India in international cricket in the ODI format. Therefore, there is no issue with his IPL status.
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Living abroad does not change a player’s category. The only thing that matters is citizenship.
