From national players like Sana Mir and Kainat Imtiaz to viral stadium fans, explore how Pakistani women openly celebrated their fandom for Virat Kohli.
India and Pakistan have the sport’s most explosive fixture, but sporting supremacy obliterates borders of nations. Though encounters between the men’s teams induce furious television arguments over a game of cricket, batting superstar Virat Kohli is adored, with almost complete devotion, on the other side of the Wagah border.
“The rest of the Pakistan women’s team are ardent fans of Virat Kohli. If I were to ask them their favorite, Virat would be the most favorite,” Mir revealed in a widely circulated interview.
That truthful statement inadvertently revealed the obvious in Asian cricket. Female players, cricketing families and devoted followers in Pakistan in the last 10 years have invariably bypassed diplomatic issues and loudly and publicly applauded the fitness and chasing acumen and allure of Kohli.
🚨THE BEAUTIFUL SIDE OF CRICKET…!!❤️
– Pakistan women’s players were spotted wearing Virat Kohli’s One8 shoes during yesterday’s match against Hong Kong in the women’s Asia Cup.#Cricket | #AsiaCuppic.twitter.com/Q981YMriXm
— Rana Ahmad. (@AhmadRana056) September 8, 2026
From ‘One8’ Spikes To Captaincy Tributes: National Stars Lead Admiration
These active Pakistani internationals have generally taken up most of the applause when it comes to the former Indian captain. When the latter stepped down from Test captaincy in 2022, Kainat Imtiaz, a Pakistani all-rounder posted a bold tribute and called Kohli “one of the greatest captains that we have seen” accompanied by tags including “real GOAT” and “real INSPIRATION.” The post clearly struck a chord as athletes alike see his work ethic as the best possible way to modern cricket.
That admiration, quite seamlessly, carries onto the pitch and its products. Left-arm finger spinner Nashra Sandhu was spoken widely of in national matches after watchful spectators found her playing in Puma ‘one8’ spikes-Kohli’s own sporting apparel brand. Though not direct players, members of the cricket family have expressed similarly. Samiya Arzoo who is Pakistan’s fastest ever bowler Hasan Ali’s wife often expressed herself asan avid admirer of Kohli’s batting masterclasses, showing how his influence permeates domestic cricketing households.
Border-Defying Loyalty: Viral Pakistani Fans In The Stands
Away from professional fields, casual Pakistani followers have taken centre stage in the tournament with their claim of being in love with the Indian batter. In the 2023 Asia Cup, held in Sri Lanka, a Pakistani woman became viral on social media sites after informing the television journalists of that country that she had come from abroad to exclusively watching Kohli hitting the ball. Forced by the local channels to choose among her national leader Babar Azam and Kohli, she chose the latter by stating that true love for great batting has no geographical barriers.
Something similar came to light at ICC Men’s T20 World cup 2024 in United States. Fiza Khan a Pakistani fan became an overnight internet sensation for wearing a custom made Virat Kohli pendant and wearing a half India, half Pakistan faced painted split paint during major matches. Indeed fierce rivalries do create enmity among the crowd, however, with gestures like these there is no room left to doubt true greatness which unites the fans long after the final ball is bowled.
virat kohlisana mirkainat imtiaznashra sandhuone8womens asia cup
