In a development that stunned cricket lovers and social media users alike, Virat Kohli’s official Instagram account suddenly became inaccessible, triggering confusion, speculation, and a flood of online reactions across platforms.
The profile of one of the world’s most-followed athletes appeared to disappear overnight, leaving fans scrambling for answers and turning the internet into a rumour mill. Early Friday morning, fans attempting to open @virat.kohli’s Instagram page were greeted with familiar error messages, 'This page isn’t available' or 'The link may be broken.'
For an account followed by over 270 million people, the sudden disappearance felt massive. Screenshots spread rapidly across X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp groups, and fan pages, turning the incident into trending news within hours. Interestingly, Kohli’s X account remains active, but no clarification or update has been posted yet.
What makes the situation even more puzzling is the timing. Kohli has been enjoying a strong run of form, recently reclaiming the No. 1 ICC ODI batting ranking after his stunning century against New Zealand earlier this month.
At a time when his popularity and performance are peaking, going silent on the biggest photo-sharing platform has left followers guessing. Was the account hacked? Temporarily disabled? Or did Kohli choose to step away from social media? So far, there are no official answers.
With Kohli unavailable online, fans quickly shifted their attention to actor Anushka Sharma’s Instagram account. Her comment sections turned into a helpdesk for anxious fans, filled with messages asking where Kohli’s profile went. Some comments were emotional, while others brought humour into the confusion.
Messages ranged from Where is Virat’s account?, Please tell him to come back! Instagram feels empty without King Kohli, and despite thousands of comments pouring in, Anushka Sharma has not responded publicly, continuing the couple’s recent approach of maintaining privacy and focusing on family life.
As expected, social media humour quickly stepped in. Meme pages linked the disappearance to trending internet jokes, including the viral “Nihilist Penguin” meme, joking that Kohli had simply walked away from the noise of social media. Memes comparing fans’ panic to cricket match suspense began circulating widely, turning the situation into both confusion and entertainment.
Adding to the mystery, users also reported difficulty accessing the Instagram account of Kohli’s brother, further fueling speculation about whether this is a coordinated social media break or a technical issue. However, without confirmation, everything remains guesswork.
Some fans believe this could be a temporary detox from social media, while others worry about a more permanent departure.
If permanent, it would mark a major shift in the sports-social media ecosystem. Kohli is among the most influential sports personalities online, and brands, fans, and cricket communities heavily rely on his digital presence.
Until Kohli or his team releases an official statement, speculation is likely to continue. Fans now wait for either a post on X, an update from Anushka Sharma, or the sudden reappearance of the account itself. For now, one thing is certain: when the King disappears, the internet notices.
