IND vs NZ 2026: Virat Kohli’s young lookalike recalls interaction with him, reveals what he heard Kohli tell Rohit Sharma

Indian batting great Virat Kohli shared a heartwarming moment with a young fan who bears a striking resemblance to him, with the interaction quickly going viral on social media.

The incident took place at the BCA Stadium ahead of the first ODI between India and New Zealand, as Indian team had arrived for preparations ahead of the series opener. Kohli, who reached Vadodara on January 7 amid large crowds of fans, paused his training session to acknowledge supporters gathered near the practice area.

During the interaction, attention quickly shifted to a young boy whose facial features and expressions closely resembled Kohli’s childhood look.

Images and videos of the duo posing together began circulating widely online, with fans dubbing the youngster ‘Mini Virat’. Kohli was seen smiling, posing for photographs, and recreating his trademark fist-pump celebration alongside the boy, moments that garnered millions of views across social media platforms.

The young fan has since spoken about the encounter, describing it as a memorable experience. Recalling the interaction, he revealed that Kohli not only acknowledged him but also jokingly pointed out the resemblance to his teammates.

“Maine ek bar unka naam liya. Meri taraf dekha and Hi karke bola ki ‘thodi der me aata hoon’. Virat Kohli fir Rohit Sharma se bol raha tha ki ‘oye udhar dekh mera duplicate baitha hai’, Chhota Chiku bol raha tha. (I called with his name once and after saying Hi, Kohli told me that he is coming to meet in a moment. Then he turned to Rohit Sharma and said ‘look, my duplicate is sitting there’. They were calling me Chhota Chiku),” the boy was quoted as saying by mykhel.

The youngster further revealed that he had interactions with several Indian players during the visit. He mentioned clicking pictures with KL Rahul and Rohit, while also making a reel with Arshdeep Singh. The boy added that he admires Kohli’s “style and aura.”

Watch the full video here:

While the off-field moment won hearts, Kohli also made his presence felt on the field playing a crucial role in India’s four-wicket victory, scoring 93 off 91 as the hosts secured a comfortable win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

India and New Zealand are set to face each other in the second ODI in Rajkot on January 14.