‘Am I an overseas player?’:Virat Kohli hits back at trolls claiming RCB playing with ‘5 overseas players’

Virat Kohli has made a strong return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, starting the season with a match-winning performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, his stay in London has sparked discussions on social media. Some users even joked about him being treated like an ‘overseas player,’ a remark Kohli addressed in a light-hearted manner. The star batter has been spending time in London with his family, away from the constant attention in India. Despite taking a break from cricket after India’s last ODI assignment in January, Kohli showed no signs of rust. His impressive knock helped his team secure victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening game. Virat Kohli responds to social media comments Kohli reacted to online jokes about his time in London during a fun interaction with RCB’s Danish Sait, who appeared as his popular character Mr Nags. Also read: WATCH| Ayush Mhatre fails Gauge Test twice after umpire’s error:PBKS break Team India’s T20 record; whistling fans interrupt at toss When asked about people saying RCB are playing five overseas players, Kohli replied with a smile, “I don’t know, why are you asking me? Ask the overseas players. I am not an overseas player. Am I an overseas player?” His response quickly caught attention and was appreciated for its humour. Life away from the spotlight in London with family India legend Kohli has been choosing to spend more time in London, staying away from the spotlight in India. He often returns only for important tournaments and matches. This approach seems to be working well, as his recent performances continue to remain strong. Emotional reflection on first IPL title Looking back at RCB’s historic IPL win last season, Kohli spoke about the relief and happiness he felt after finally lifting the trophy in his 18th season with the team. He said, “I had heard of this statement or this saying, four years, monkey off the back. That night I really felt what it means. Everything became light.” Also read: DC host MI in season’s first double-header:Both teams had winning starts; Mumbai Indians won 21 matches against Delhi Capitals Kohli explains the meaning of victory Virat also shared his thoughts on what winning means after years of hard work and dedication. He explained, “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.” ‘’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 to the work that you put in, and also gives you motivation to work harder,” he concluded further.