Virat Kohli becomes most searched cricketer in history of Google

Virat Kohli Century. (Photo Source: Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Google has officially announced Virat Kohli as the most searched cricketer in their 25-year history. This prestigious title highlights Kohli’s immense popularity and the global fascination surrounding his remarkable career. Notably, the former India skipper first came into the scene during the U19 World Cup in 2008, where he led the Men in Blue to victory. Following this, he was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL, where he played for 16 years and continues to be a part of it.

He made his India debut against Sri Lanka in 2008, and since then, the Delhi-born cricketer has broken multiple records including the most number of centuries in the ODI format. He finished as the leading run-scorer of the ODI World Cup 2023 and also set the record for most runs by an individual in a single edition of the marquee tournament. Currently, he is just behind Sachin Tendulkar, as he is the second-highest run scorer in international cricket.

However, it’s not just his cricketing prowess that has people searching for him. Kohli’s off-field persona, including his knowledge of fashion, philanthropic endeavours, personal life, and his love for tattoos has also piqued the curiosity of millions of people across the globe. The recent recognition from Google is a testament to his universal appeal as multiple brands have shown interest in working with the cricketer in the last few years.

Meanwhile, Kohli’s hero Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the most searched footballer by Google. Kohli previously was part of the same commercial alongside the Portuguese star, even though he didn’t share the screen with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. However, Kohli posted a thoughtful message on Instagram when his team was knocked out of the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Kohli also called him the ‘Greatest of All Time’ in his post.

Notably, the recognition signifies that Kohli’s influence extends far beyond the cricketing realm, captivating the attention of fans, cricket enthusiasts, and even those unfamiliar with the sport, especially people who live abroad. The famous streamer IShowSpeed is the best example of this, as the Portuguese found Kohli on Google, and following this, he came to India to watch the cricketer live in action during the World Cup.