Virat Kohli, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, has achieved a remarkable feat by amassing an enormous fan base that knows no boundaries. Recently, he accomplished yet another milestone by becoming the first Indian to garner 250 million followers on the popular social media platform, Instagram.
This outstanding achievement positions him just behind the eminent football superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the hierarchy of the most followed sporting personalities on Instagram.
In terms of fan following, Kohli has established himself in a league of his own, surpassing even the revered Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, who themselves enjoy substantial popularity on Instagram but trail behind Kohli.
The veteran MS Dhoni, a former Indian skipper and a key figure of the Chennai Super Kings, claims the second position among cricketers with the highest Instagram followers, boasting an impressive 42.5 million.
Close on his heels is Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary batsman, with 40.5 million followers. Rounding up the top five are Rohit Sharma with 28.5 million followers and Hardik Pandya with 25.9 million followers.
The list continues with the inclusion of former Indian cricketer and Chennai Super Kings stalwart, Suresh Raina, who claims the sixth position with an impressive following of 23.8 million on Instagram.
Following him closely in seventh place is the renowned South African cricketing maestro, AB de Villiers, who has garnered a substantial fan base of 21.9 million. Another prominent figure in the lineup is the former Indian all-rounder and World Cup victor of 2011, Yuvraj Singh, who secures the seventh spot with 17.5 million followers.
Shikhar Dhawan, the prolific Indian opening batsman, occupies the eighth place with 13.7 million followers, while KL Rahul concludes the list with 14.2 million followers, further showcasing his popularity among cricket enthusiasts on Instagram.