‘Started Watching Cricket Because of Him’: Shehnaaz Gill Opens Up About Her Admiration for Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli’s magnetic appeal continues to extend far beyond cricket stadiums — inspiring not only millions of fans but also prominent figures from the entertainment world.

Among his admirers is actress and singer Shehnaaz Gill, who recently revealed that her journey as a cricket fan began entirely because of Kohli. In a teaser from an upcoming YouTube podcast hosted by Ranveer Allahabadia, Shehnaaz spoke candidly about her admiration for the former India captain. She said it was Kohli’s “style” and “attitude” on the field that first caught her attention and turned her into a passionate follower of the sport.

“Mene cricket Virat Kohli ki wajah se hi start kiya tha dekhna (I started watching cricket because of Virat Kohli),” Shehnaaz confessed, adding that his energy and aura made him impossible to ignore. “Kehlne ka style acha lagta hai, attitude acha lagta hai… aura hai. Isiliye toh poori duniya pasand karti hai Virat Kohli ko (I like his style of play, his attitude… he has an aura. That’s why the whole world loves him).”

This isn’t the first time Shehnaaz has expressed her admiration for the batting maestro. During a previous appearance on the YouTube show Curly Tales, she was asked who she would date, hang out with, and ditch among Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya. Without hesitation, she chose Kohli for all three. “Date, hang out, and ditch — sab Virat Kohli ke saath (everything with Virat Kohli),” she said with a laugh.

Shehnaaz, who rose to fame with Bigg Boss 13 and has since built a successful career in film and music, is currently promoting her latest release, Ikk Kudi. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli — fresh off his return to Team India in the ODI series against Australia — is set to feature in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa starting November 30.

For Shehnaaz, though, cricket will likely always be synonymous with the man who made her fall in love with the game — Virat Kohli.