In an age where screens are windows into our souls, even a casual “like” can spark an inferno.
This week, Virat Kohli—India’s cricketing titan and poster boy for discipline—found himself in the centre of an unexpected social media blaze. The reason? A single tap on a photo of actress Avneet Kaur. The twist? It happened on his wife Anushka Sharma’s birthday.
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Cue chaos.
Screenshots surfaced. Memes exploded. Whispers turned to outrage. What was framed as a harmless interaction quickly spiraled into wild speculation. Was Kohli being careless—or worse, disrespectful?
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The like soon vanished. But the internet doesn’t forget.
Under pressure, Kohli issued a rare clarification: “While clearing my feed, it seems the algorithm may have mistakenly registered an interaction… Please, no assumptions.”
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Some weren’t buying it. Critics called the explanation flimsy, accusing him of everything from poor judgment to being “creepy.” And yes, it was a clumsy moment. A global icon liking a glam shot of a 23-year-old actress—on his wife’s birthday, no less—isn’t a great look.
But must we always assume the worst?
Kohli’s brand has long stood for family, fitness, and focus. One slip shouldn’t unravel years of character. Still, this episode is a reminder: in the digital arena, perception often overshadows intent.
He could’ve ignored it. He could’ve stayed silent. But Kohli chose to address it—not out of guilt, but perhaps to shield his family from unnecessary noise.
What this really exposes is our hunger for scandal, our obsession with perfection from public figures. One mistaken like and we’re ready to rewrite their legacy.
It’s exhausting. For them—and, frankly, for us.
If we can’t afford to extend the grace of context in such minor matters, what does that say about us?
