Virat Kohli Teases T20I Retirement Reversal for Unprecedented Match: 'When I Heard the News...'

Kohli's immense popularity on social media played a key role in the decision to include cricket in the Olympics. Niccolo Campriani, president of the LA Local Organising Committee (LALOG), emphasized the importance of a strong digital presence to attract younger audiences to the games. Campriani highlighted Kohli's massive following on social media, making him the third-most followed athlete in the world with 314 million followers (now 387 million across Instagram, Facebook, and X). This impressive reach surpasses the combined followers of LeBron James, Tom Brady, and Tiger Woods, making cricket a unique platform to engage with fans. The addition of cricket to the Olympics was seen as a significant opportunity for LA 28 to appeal to a wider audience and create a win-win situation for all involved.

The Los Angeles Olympics is expected to be a T20 tournament, so Kohli and Rohit Sharma will not be part of the Indian team. Both had drawn curtains on their careers in the shortest format last year. But the 36-year-old jokingly said that he is ready to play one last game for India in T20Is if the team makes the final in the Olympics.

"If we are playing the gold medal match, I might sneak in for one game.. get a medal and come back home," he told Isa Guha during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.

'When I heard the news, I was happy'

Kohli expressed elation at cricket's return to the Olympics, which was announced in October 2023. It would comprise both men's and women's T20 tournaments.

"When I heard the news, I was happy. The T20 leagues that are played all over the world, including the IPL (Indian Premier League), have played a massive role. It's a great opportunity. Getting to be Olympic champions would be a great thing. The first of its kind. I am sure we will be somewhere close to the medal," Kohli added.

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