Daijiworld Media Network - Sydney
Sydney, Oct 26: Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli once again captured the hearts of millions — not only for his stellar performance on the field but also for his touching display of patriotism following India’s emphatic win over Australia in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
In a video that has now gone viral on social media, Kohli was seen interacting with fans while walking back to the dressing room after India’s nine-wicket victory. During the interaction, an Indian fan accidentally dropped the national flag on the ground. Kohli immediately noticed it, quickly bent down, picked up the flag, and respectfully handed it back to the fan — a gesture that drew widespread praise online.
Fans and netizens hailed Kohli for his humility and love for the nation, calling him “a true patriot” and “the pride of India.”
Earlier in the day, Kohli, who had endured two consecutive ducks in the series, returned to form in style, scoring an unbeaten 74 off 81 deliveries. Alongside skipper Rohit Sharma, who smashed an impressive 121 not out off 125 balls, the duo guided India to a commanding victory.
The pair shared an unbroken 168-run partnership in a flawless run chase of 237, ensuring India avoided a whitewash and finished the series on a high note.
Reflecting on his innings, Kohli said, “Good to be out of the pond, honestly (after consecutive ducks). You’ve scored so many runs in international cricket, but the game always keeps you humble. Almost 37 now, and still, sometimes you feel like you don’t know how to score a run — that’s the beauty of this sport.”
He further added, “Finding rhythm again always feels special. When Rohit’s batting at the other end, it’s easy to rotate strike. We understand each other’s game really well. It’s always satisfying to finish matches together for India.”
With his composed knock, Kohli also climbed to the position of the second-highest run-getter in ODI history, reaffirming his legendary status in world cricket.
The emphatic win, coupled with Kohli’s heartwarming act off the field, has left fans celebrating both the spirit of cricket and the pride of being Indian.