Virat Kohli Makes Surprise Appearance at Yuvraj Singh's Fundraising Gala
Kohli's Unexpected Attendance
Former Indian Test cricketer Virat Kohli has largely kept a low profile, avoiding public events. However, he made an exception for a fundraising gala organized by his former teammate Yuvraj Singh's YouWeCan Foundation. Kohli's attendance was unexpected, but his bond with Yuvraj drew him in.
As reported by a leading news outlet, Yuvraj Singh hosted a star-studded dinner that included current Indian players and his former teammates from England. The guest list featured notable names such as Ashish Nehra, Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Brian Lara, Ravi Shastri, and Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Initially, Kohli was not present at the event. The Indian team attended for just over an hour, engaging in various activities before departing. As the gathering was winding down, Kohli appeared on screen, chatting with his friend Kevin Pietersen.
Following this, the host Gaurav Kapoor invited Yuvraj Singh, KP, Chris Gayle, and Darren Gough for a candid discussion. Kohli, who had been absent at first, joined the conversation after Kapoor encouraged him to do so.
During the interaction, Kohli was asked about his surprising retirement from Test cricket. He humorously attributed it to his graying beard, stating,
"I just coloured my beard two days ago. You know it's time when you are coloring your beard every four days."
Kohli Reflects on His Friendship with Yuvraj
Kohli took the opportunity to share his deep friendship with Yuvraj Singh, reminiscing about their time together since the 2011 World Cup, Yuvraj's battle with cancer, and his triumphant return to cricket.
Kohli expressed that he would not have attended the event if it weren't for Yuvraj, stating,
"We shared a very good bond both on and off the field. I met him for the first time during a North Zone tournament in Bangalore. When I started playing for India, him, bhajji pa and Zaheer Khan took me under their wings. Really helped me grow as a player, made me comfortable in the dressing room. Lot of fun times off the field and made me aware of the lifestyle of getting to the top. These are the bonds I would cherish for the rest of my life.
Watching him in the World Cup was very special and what we got to know after that was a shock. Being so close to him... we had no idea. Then his battle with cancer and again the champion that he is... coming on top and making a comeback to the team when I was leading the team."
He continued,
"I clearly remember we played a game against England in Cuttack. There was a 2017 series we played at home and top-order got out early and Yuvi pa got 150 I think and MS scored 110 or something. I still remember telling KL or someone that this is like childhood days watching on big TV... I have a lot of love and respect for him. It's a pleasure being here and I won't do it for any other person but him."
After his heartfelt speech, Kohli quietly exited with Gaurav Kapoor, accompanied by minimal security, leaving behind a room filled with applause.