Virat Kohli had a massive statement on Virat Kohli [Source: AFP/X]Virat Kohli recently met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during the latter's visit to London. Kohli, who is now based in London, learned that Shinde was in the city and paid him a goodwill visit. While the interaction was not centred around cricket, Shinde later opened up about meeting Kohli and expressed his delight at the former India captain's humble demeanour.Maharashtra Deputy CM opens up on Virat Kohli's gestureEknath Shinde revealed to ANI that Virat Kohli took the initiative to meet him after learning about the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister's presence in London. The Maharashtra leader was in the UK from September 8 onwards to receive multiple awards he was nominated for.Shinde described the interaction as a goodwill visit and said he was particularly pleased by the opportunity to have a direct conversation with the former India captain who is currently under the radar by the BCCI for his chances at World Cup 2027. "Virat Kohli lives in London, and when he learned that I am here, he met me for a goodwill visit. I was delighted that such a big Indian cricketer, the one with the most centuries, is so down-to-earth," Shinde shared.ANI @ANI #WATCH | Star Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in London. They discussed a range of issues, including sports and infrastructure. Sep 11, 2026, 4:51 PM For the unaware, Shinde’s visit included the Commonwealth Public Leadership Award at the British Parliament and the Statesmanship Award for Transformative Leadership at the House of Commons. He also received the Global Pride of Maharashtra Award from the Maharashtra Mandal London.Also Read- Fact Check- Did Rohit Sharma Gives Virat Kohli's Credit To Shikhar Dhawan?Kohli gets "down-to-earth" compliment from Eknath ShindeFor Shinde, the most memorable part of the meeting appeared to be Kohli's personality away from the cricket field. Despite his enormous stature in Indian sport, Kohli's decision to personally meet Shinde left a strong impression on the Maharashtra leader.Shinde praised the former India captain for remaining grounded despite being one of the biggest names in world cricket. He specifically referred to Kohli as a massive Indian cricketer and highlighted his extraordinariness as he discussed the awards he received in London."He is so down-to-earth. We had met before, but I was particularly happy with the direct conversation we had today. We also discussed the award I received," Shinde said.Virat Kohli's political affinity with top figuresKohli's interaction with Shinde is another example of the Indian cricket icon's meetings with prominent political personalities over the course of his career. His stature has taken him beyond sporting circles, with several interactions involving India's political leadership and international figures.One of his most notable recent meetings came with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Kohli and the victorious Indian team visited the Prime Minister's residence for a celebratory breakfast following their title win.During his playing career, Kohli has also crossed paths with Union sports ministers and other political leaders at national award ceremonies, sporting events and government-backed initiatives. Virat Kohli's international cricket career has similarly placed him in the presence of political leaders outside India. During India's overseas tours, the Indian team has attended official receptions involving national and state-level leaders. Kohli has also met former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the latter's visit to India and was hosted at official state receptions by Australian Prime Ministers too at the iconic Kirribilli House in Sydney.Also Read- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gets Taste Of Jasprit Bumrah Music Before IND vs AFG 1st T20I
