Rajasthan Royals sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi opens up about his memorable interactions with him. Virat Kohli After the IPL 2026 final, admitting that talking to his childhood idol felt “like a dream” and admired his signature cap.The 15-year-old batting prodigy, who enjoyed a record-breaking season and finished as the tournament’s top run-scorer, was among the players who met Kohli after Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their second consecutive IPL title in Ahmedabad. The heartwarming interaction between the two quickly went viral after videos surfaced on social media, showing Kohli sharing words of encouragement with the young opener.However, for Suryavanshi, the moment meant much more than a simple conversation.
‘I was a big fan of Virat Kohli’
Speaking in a video shared by Rajasthan RoyalsSuryavanshi revealed that he had long admired Kohli and even supported RCB because of the former India captain.“Sir, let me tell you the truth. When Virat Bhaiyya put his hand on my shoulder like that, I was a fan of RCB before, actually a huge fan of Virat Kohli,” said Vibhu. The youngster further revealed that he often wore Kohli’s signature cap before winning the orange cap this season.“When I didn’t have the orange cap, I used to wear the white cap. When he put his hand on my shoulder, talking to me, he was actually putting me on like a dream,” he added. Vaibhav said, “The dark one he talked to, laga hi nahi ki woo is actually Virat Kohli”. According to Suryavanshi, Kohli interacted with him more like an elder brother than one of the biggest stars in world cricket.“As an elder brother, he explained to me what I was doing well, what I should do better, what to focus on and what to do in the future,” Vaibhu concluded.
Kohli’s advice to a budding star
During his conversation, Kohli encouraged the youngster to stay focused and believe in himself despite the increased attention around him. “Going up from here, what has happened, is due to good work and good faith, who is saying what, who is speaking, keep all that out of your mind. Just focus on your batting and yourself,” Virat told Sourivanshi after winning the trophy in Ahmedabad. Kohli then ended the conversation with a smile and a memorable line that quickly became popular with fans:“A spring, filled with everything… and playing Khatam!”
