Will Virat Kohli meet Lionel Messi during GOAT tour in Mumbai? Here’s what we know

Virat Kohli returned to India after spending a few days in London with his family. He left shortly after India clinched the ODI series against South Africa. Kohli put in an outstanding performance as India defeated the Proteas by 9 wickets in the third and final ODI to secure the series 2-1.

Virat, who has been in outstanding form with the bat, emerged as the top scorer in the series, amassing 302 runs at an impressive average of 151 runs, which included two centuries and fifties. He was named Player of the Series. The veteran batter was spotted arriving at the Mumbai airport on Saturday. His return was awaited as he is all set to participate in the upcoming New Zealand series and is likely to represent Delhi in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Virat was accompanied by his wife Anushka Sharma, who was marking her first return to India in months. The former Indian skipper is set to re-enter domestic cricket by participating in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first time in 15 years. The tournament is scheduled to begin on December 24 when Delhi begins its campaign against Andhra Pradesh.

Interestingly, Virat’s arrival on Saturday sparked intense speculation about a possible meeting with Lionel Messi during the ongoing GOAT tour of India. It is noteworthy that Messi reached India in the early hours of December 13. The iconic football player is expected to reach Mumbai on December 14 and meet his fans here at the Wankhede Stadium.

Meanwhile, Messi’s first day in India did not turn out as expected; Fans in Kolkata were left disheartened after missing the chance to catch a glimpse of their beloved star. A chaotic scene broke out at Salt Lake Stadium, forcing Messi to leave the field early as the crowd vented their frustration by destroying and damaging the pitch.

Fans claimed Messi’s planned stadium tour never really came to fruition. As soon as the World Cup champion entered the field, he found himself surrounded by politicians, officials, celebrities and their relatives, with a significant media presence.

While there are not many indications that Virat is a huge football fan, he has openly described himself as a devoted Cristiano Ronaldo fan. If the rumors of his unparalleled admiration for Ronaldo turn out to be true, it will be fascinating to watch how the potential to face Messi unfolds.

ALSO READ| ‘Absolute privilege’: LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka shares a heartfelt message after his unforgettable meeting with Lionel Messi in Kolkata