Fan worship in India, especially around cricket, continues to reach extreme levels. While many citizens still struggle with poverty and lack of basic facilities, some fans are willing to spend lakhs on gifts for their idols, triggering strong public reactions.
As Team India headed to Surat for a match, a fan attempted to gift Virat Kohli a gold plated mobile cover worth Rs. 15 lakh. The cover reportedly features Kohli’s image, his number 18, and his name engraved on it.
Images and videos of the expensive gift quickly went viral online. Many users expressed outrage, questioning why such money was not used to help people in genuine need instead of being spent on celebrity worship.
Several netizens pointed out that Virat Kohli already earns millions from a single match and endorsements. They argued that he has no requirement for such costly gifts, especially when social inequality remains a serious issue.
Adding to the criticism, reports suggested the fan did not even get a chance to meet Virat Kohli. This led many to describe the gesture as a complete waste of money driven by misplaced admiration.
Surat based Virat Kohli’s fan Ankit Patel wants to gift him gold mobile cover worth ₹15 lakh. pic.twitter.com/42gwabHYOk
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) January 13, 2026
