Virat Kohli: From Ronaldo to Manchester City
Virat Kohli's football allegiance has been a fascinating journey. For years, his support was tied to his idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. He followed him from Manchester United to Real Madrid, and then to Juventus. However, in late 2023, Kohli revealed a shift
in his loyalty. He named Manchester City as his current favourite club. He mentioned that since Ronaldo left the Premier League, he has started supporting City, especially after a pleasant experience visiting the club. This change highlights a fandom that evolves, moving from loyalty to a single player to appreciating a team's collective skill. On the national front, Kohli has often expressed his support for the German national team during international tournaments.
MS Dhoni: The Manchester United Faithful
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a goalkeeper in his school days, has a long-standing love for football. His favourite club is the English giant, Manchester United. His connection to the Red Devils is well-documented; he was even named an official ambassador for the Premier League in India back in 2013. In a video for a brand endorsement, he proudly held a custom Manchester United jersey with his nickname 'Mahi' and his iconic number 7. While he supports the club, his admiration for players crosses rival lines, having named Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane as some of his favourite players.
Rohit Sharma: A Die-hard Madridista
Indian captain Rohit Sharma is an outspoken and passionate supporter of the Spanish powerhouse, Real Madrid. His social media often features posts celebrating the club's victories and defending them in defeat. His fandom is so recognized that in 2019, he was named the first-ever non-footballer brand ambassador for La Liga in India. Sharma has stated that he grew to love the club and football by watching his favourite player, Zinedine Zidane. He has visited their home stadium, the Santiago Bernabeu, and proudly posed with a custom jersey.
Sourav Ganguly: A Red Devil with a Kolkata Heart
Sourav Ganguly's love for football is deeply rooted in his Kolkata upbringing. While he is a co-owner and board member of the ISL team Mohun Bagan SG (formerly ATK Mohun Bagan), his international allegiance lies with Manchester United. He has said his support for the club began while playing county cricket in England, particularly during the David Beckham era. Though he has been spotted at other Premier League games, he maintains that Manchester United is the club he follows.
KL Rahul: A Proud Gooner
Stylish batsman KL Rahul is a devoted supporter of another North London club, Arsenal. He has often spoken about his admiration for the club and even visited their home, the Emirates Stadium, to watch them play. Rahul, who has been photographed in an Arsenal jersey, shares his allegiance with another Indian cricket legend, Rahul Dravid, who was also known to be an Arsenal fan. The club has also welcomed him, featuring his visit on their official YouTube channel.
Jasprit Bumrah: At Home at Old Trafford
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is another cricketer who is firmly in the Manchester United camp. His support for the Red Devils is evident, and he even paid a visit to the club's iconic stadium, Old Trafford, famously known as the 'Theatre of Dreams'. Manchester United's official channels have celebrated his visit, presenting him with a custom jersey. In a nod to his favourite club, Bumrah once copied Marcus Rashford's signature 'finger to temple' celebration after taking a wicket in a World Cup match.
