Virat Kohli sent his best wishes to Harry Kane following the Bayern Munich striker’s triumph at the Ballon d’Or 2026, which made him the first Englishman to claim the coveted trophy in a quarter of a century. The Indian cricketing icon posted a touching note on Instagram for Kane, applauding the attacker’s path and relentless commitment to reaching the summit of global soccer.
Even though public appearances involving both sports superstars are rare, their mutual friendship is widely acknowledged. Kohli characterized Kane as a fully meritocratic recipient, despite discussions surrounding the English captain securing the title over fellow contenders such as Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Virat Kohli applauds Harry Kane following Ballon d’Or success
On Instagram, Kohli published a dedicated note to Kane, emphasizing the determination and effort the forward has displayed across his professional career. The ex-Indian skipper further extended warm wishes to Kane and his loved ones, voicing his delight upon witnessing his companion claim the renowned accolade.
“Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you’ve carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you. God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you would be of your own journey. My best wishes always. Congratulations.”
The tribute from Kohli honored not only the victory itself but also the grueling path behind it, as the England leader moved past initial obstacles to cement his place among the elite attackers in international football.
Harry my friend, you deserve every bit of this award for your resilience, hard work and honesty with which you’ve carried yourself through all these years playing football at the top. Really happy for you. God bless you and your family. They must all be very proud of you as you…
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) October 27, 2026
Kohli gets back to practice prior to New Zealand ODI fixtures
Kohli has hit the nets again in Mumbai to get ready for India’s forthcoming five-game ODI leg in New Zealand, scheduled to kick off in Auckland on November 4. The veteran Indian batsman comes off a successful outing against the West Indies, where he surpassed the 15,000-run milestone in ODIs and notched his 55th hundred in one-day cricket.
Reports indicate that Kohli engaged in a rigorous two-hour session at Brabourne Stadium under the Cricket Club of India banner, gearing up specifically for the pace-conducive environments anticipated in New Zealand. Additionally, he requires an extra 226 runs to overtake Sachin Tendulkar’s benchmark for the highest number of ODI runs scored by an Indian batsman on New Zealand soil.
This upcoming contest serves as another crucial stepping stone for Kohli as the Indian team prepares for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Outside of his practice sessions, the premier batter drew praise after presenting a signed Indian team shirt to a local net bowler, incorporating a gracious act into his routine.
