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Ross Taylor, ex-captain of New Zealand, believes that Virat Kohli’s social media following rivals that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Virat Kohli, recently awarded the Orange Cap for his outstanding performance in the IPL’s 2024 season, stands as the most followed cricketer worldwide. His immense popularity transcends boundaries, placing him among the elite few considered global sporting icons. As a former captain of India, Kohli’s influence extends to inspiring future generations to embrace cricket passionately. He himself acknowledges his role in advancing the sport’s reach and popularity. With the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 set to unfold in the USA, fans eagerly anticipate witnessing Kohli’s prowess, despite his absence from India’s lone warm-up match against Bangladesh.
Ross Taylor remarked that Virat Kohli’s social media presence is on par with that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
During an episode of the “180 Not-Out” podcast, Ross Taylor, reflecting on his time as a teammate with Virat Kohli at Royal Challengers Bangalore, offered high praise for the Indian cricketer. The discussion revolved around the impact of social media on the growth of cricket and the increasing popularity of cricketers.
Ross Taylor emphasized the unprecedented trend of cricketers becoming lucrative brand ambassadors, a development unforeseen at the inception of the Indian Premier League in 2008. He discussed Virat Kohli’s significant influence on cricket and his widespread appeal across social media platforms.
Taylor acknowledged that Kohli’s fame extends beyond the cricketing realm, recognizing him as a global icon. He noted Kohli’s social media dominance, likening it to the popularity of football legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Players are putting outposts endorsing products and things like that. Who would have thought of that in 2008? Someone like Kohli, who is a superstar in the world of cricket, but is also a global superstar in the world of sports. In terms of Instagram and social media, he’s up there with Ronaldo and Messi!” – Ross Taylor said via 180 Not Out podcast.
Cristiano Ronaldo leads as the athlete with the largest Instagram following, boasting 630 million followers. Lionel Messi follows closely behind as the second-most followed footballer with 530 million followers. In third place is Virat Kohli, with an impressive 269 million followers.
Notably, Virat Kohli’s following surpasses that of basketball icon LeBron James, as well as Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, among other renowned athletes.
Following IPL 2024, what lies ahead for Virat Kohli?
After an impressive performance in IPL 2024, Virat Kohli is taking a brief respite. Following this break, he is scheduled to join the Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the USA and West Indies. Kohli will rejoin the team before the opening group match against Ireland.
