Mumbai/IBNS: Social media buzzed after Indian cricket star Virat Kohli briefly liked a photo posted by German influencer LizLaz on Instagram, triggering widespread discussion among fans.
Screenshots of Kohli’s activity quickly circulated online, sparking speculation and debate.
The former India captain later removed the ‘like’, but not before the moment went viral.
Responding to the episode, LizLaz told Hindustan Times she was unaware of Kohli’s interaction until it became news.
“It was crazy because I woke up and then I was all over the news,” she said.
“I don’t even know when he liked the picture. I learnt through the news. So many people sent me articles and messages. People were super excited about it.”
She added that she felt “a bit bad” for Kohli after he liked and unliked the picture.
LizLazsaid, "No, I felt a bit sorry for him actually!"
"I was so happy that he liked it, but then him unliking it, I felt a bit bad for him because I don't even know how it became such a big story.
"How did people notice, how did they make it news… that was probably not his intention behind it, but still I am grateful for it and I appreciate the support from him," she added.
LizLaz said she was introduced to the Indian Premier League during a visit to India last year and began following Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“Watching IPL with my Bangalorean friends was contagious. If you support RCB, Virat Kohli is the most exciting player to watch. He’s just so good,” she said.
This is not the first time Virat Kohli’s social media activity has sparked discussion.
A similar episode occurred in 2025 when Kohli was seen liking a post by actor-influencer Avneet Kaur, drawing widespread attention online.
As the incident gained traction, Kohli later clarified that the interaction may have been triggered inadvertently by Instagram’s algorithm while he was clearing his feed.
Kohli, currently playing in IPL 2026, is married to actor Anushka Sharma.
The couple, who tied the knot in 2017, have two children — daughter Vamika and son Akaay.