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Indian batting icon Virat Kohli has responded with humour to the viral chatter labelling him as an “overseas player” for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.
The light-hearted debate gained traction among fans due to Kohli’s increased time spent in London with his family in recent years, leading to jokes that RCB are effectively fielding an extra overseas player.
Despite scaling down his international commitments, having stepped away from Tests and T20Is and now featuring only in ODIs, the former India captain continues to remain a central figure for his franchise.
Addressing the speculation in a video shared by RCB, Kohli was quizzed by content creator Danish Sait, known for his popular ‘Mr. Nags’ persona.
The host referenced fan claims about RCB playing with “five overseas players,” prompting a witty response from Kohli.
“I don’t know why you’re asking me. Ask the overseas players. I am not an overseas player,” Virat Kohli said with a laugh, before playfully turning the question back, “Am I an overseas player?”
The 37-year-old began the ongoing IPL season in commanding fashion, scoring an unbeaten 69 to guide RCB to victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening fixture as defending champions.
Reflecting on last season’s long-awaited title triumph, Kohli admitted the victory brought a sense of relief after years of near misses with the franchise he has represented since the league’s inception.
“That night, I really felt what it means. Everything became light,” he said, describing the emotional weight lifted after finally securing the title.
He also offered insight into his mindset around success and failure, emphasising the importance of perseverance.
“Victory is the accumulation of hard work, all the sacrifices you’ve made, to be committed to the sport. It all comes together as a form of assurance, a reward, to know that you haven’t wasted your time,” Kohli added.
“A lot of people learn from losses, but a lot of people can get very disheartened as well. So when you win after a lot of hard work, it makes you feel a sense of justice for the work that you put in, and also gives you motivation to work harder.”
