Even before he faced his first ball, Virat Kohli was the centre of considerable attention in Chennai, at the India v Australia match, the first for both teams at the 2023 World Cup.

The crowd came in big numbers at Chepauk to support the Indian team’s first game of a home World Cup, turning the stadium blue. With Australia asking India to bowl first, the obvious suspects on the field were the subject of chants and cheers from the crowd.

Through the powerplay and beyond, Kohli kept clapping and asking the crowd to cheer for the team between deliveries. His requests were quickly acknowledged: the spectators would instantly crank up the volume whenever Kohli raised his hands.

In the 33rd over, Jasprit Bumrah was in operation, with Kohli, animated as always, sprinting around to keep the morale high. As he did another round of slow clapping, asking the crowd to cheer for the team, the on-ground DJ, on the mic, asked the crowd to cheer for Kohli.

What a frame.

– King Kohli at Chepauk. pic.twitter.com/W4RyTDIbNR

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 8, 2023

The former India captain instantly turned around, pointing at the DJ as if to say “Why are you cheering for me?”. He pointed at Bumrah, and signalled them to cheer for the bowler instead.

“Virat is asking us to cheer for Bumrah instead,” said the DJ, and without any delay, the crowd switched to cheering for the India quick instead. He might not be the captain anymore, but he remains a crowd favourite.

Earlier in the day, Kohli was seen having a word with serial pitch invader ‘Jarvo 69’, who interrupted the proceedings ahead of the match.

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