Former New Zealand cricketer Ross Taylor has praised Virat Kohli, stating that the Indian cricket captain’s influence is on par with football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Taylor highlighted Kohli’s significant impact in the world of cricket and social media over the past few years.
In a recent podcast, Taylor emphasized Kohli’s status as a “global superstar” in the realm of sports, particularly on platforms like Instagram. He noted that Kohli’s social media presence rivals that of Ronaldo and Messi, two of the most followed athletes on the platform.
Ronaldo boasts a staggering 630 million followers on Instagram, making him the most followed individual on the platform. Meanwhile, Messi follows closely behind with 503 million followers. Kohli, with 269 million followers, is steadily climbing the ranks and currently sits in the 16th spot.
Despite his social media success, Kohli continues to excel on the cricket field. In the recently concluded Indian Premier League, Kohli showcased his batting prowess by winning the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs in the tournament. He amassed 741 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 61.75, including a century and five half-centuries.
With a stellar IPL performance under his belt, Kohli is now gearing up to represent India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the West Indies. The Men in Blue will commence their campaign against Ireland on June 5 in New York, with Kohli expected to play a pivotal role in the team’s quest for glory.