NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli is normally discussed for his batting—high-impact scores, finishing jobs, and the calm confidence he brings when a chase needs something special. Yet during IPL 2026, the spotlight has shifted to a completely different kind of “highlight.” Kohli has reportedly tapped the “like” button on a post shared by German model and influencer LizLaz, and the moment quickly turned into a viral talking point after screenshots of the interaction began circulating online. The intrigue only deepened because Kohli, at the time, was not following the influencer’s account.
Kohli-LizLaz social media moment goes viral
Within minutes, what would normally be a small digital action became a widely discussed incident across social media platforms. Screenshots of Kohli’s interaction spread rapidly, and LizLaz soon found herself trending as the story gathered momentum.
LizLaz explains how she found out
Speaking later about the sudden attention, LizLaz described waking up to news coverage that had already spread widely. She said it felt “crazy” because she learned about the development from the headlines rather than directly from Kohli’s notification.
She also outlined the chain of events that followed: she did not know exactly when the photo was liked, and instead realised it through online reporting. According to her, many people then shared articles made about her across different platforms and even messaged her in her DMs, leading to an outpouring of messages soon after the story broke.
- She said she woke up and immediately saw the story in the news.
- She explained she did not track the “like” in real time and only learned through coverage online.
- She added that multiple people sent her links and messages after articles appeared on several platforms.
- She noted she received a large number of DMs the same day, with many people excited about the development.
Reaction to the reported “unlike”
LizLaz also addressed the claim that Kohli later removed the “like.” She said she felt a little sorry for him, stressing that she was happy at first that he had liked the post, but felt uneasy once it was reportedly undone. She questioned how the incident became such a major story, noting she does not understand how people noticed the activity so quickly or turned it into news.
At the same time, she made it clear she appreciated the attention and the support from Kohli, even if the outcome was not what she expected to become public discussion.
How LizLaz became a cricket fan and RCB supporter
Beyond the viral incident, LizLaz shared how she developed an interest in cricket in the first place. She said she is a fan of Kohli and traced her introduction to the sport to travel and exposure through friends.
She explained that she began travelling across South India and beyond—moving through places such as Goa, Mysore, Coorg, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad, and later also the northern regions. It was during this period, she said, that she was introduced to cricket as a sport.
- She said she is a fan of Kohli.
- She described travelling across South India and other cities, including Goa, Mysore, Coorg, Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
- She said this trip period helped her get introduced to cricket.
From Germany and football to IPL watching
LizLaz added that she was born in South Africa but brought up in Germany, where she said the national sport is football. She claimed she did not watch cricket before, and that the shift happened later through friends and the IPL.
She then revealed that it was the previous year’s IPL that pulled her in. She said she began watching with Bangalore-based friends, and that the experience was “contagious,” helping her become a supporter of Royal Challengers Bangalore.
She linked her fandom to the presence of Kohli, saying that if someone supports RCB, Kohli is the most exciting player to watch. She described him as simply “so good,” and said that was why she felt happy about him liking the picture.
- She said she was brought up in Germany, where football is the national sport.
- She said she did not watch cricket before that.
- She said the IPL the previous year drew her in, as she watched with Bangalorean friends.
- She said she became a Royal Challengers Bangalore fan through that experience.
- She added that Kohli is the most exciting player to watch for RCB supporters.
Kohli’s history of similar social media buzz and his clarification
This is not the first time Kohli has been pulled into social media chatter for an interaction outside the usual match-related headlines. The article also noted that earlier Kohli had briefly liked a post by Avneet Kaur, which similarly sparked discussion online.
After the LizLaz incident, Kohli later issued a clarification. He said that while clearing his feed, it appeared the platform’s algorithm may have mistakenly recorded an interaction. Kohli stressed that there was no intention behind it and requested that unnecessary assumptions not be made. He thanked people for their understanding.
Kohli’s explanation aimed to put the focus back on intention—suggesting the “like” and any subsequent reversal may have been a technical or algorithmic effect rather than a deliberate message.
Where to follow IPL action
For fans tracking the season, updates are available for the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news, the IPL schedule, the points table, and the ongoing race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
