India icon Virat Kohli is one of the finest batters of his generation. Since making his India debut in 2008, Kohli has been a standout performer for the team across formats. The 35-year-old enjoys a huge fan following across the globe, not only for his cricketing skills, but also for his fitness and longevity. Kohli has found himself a huge admirer in Germany’s most successful football club, Bayern Munich, who labelled the former India captain as a sporting equivalent of their legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Neuer, who emerged through the ranks at Schalke, joined Bayern Munich in 2011. Since his move from the Gelsenkirch-based club, the 37-year-old has been a standout performer for Bayern in their unprecedented success.
On social media platform X, a fan asked the German club to “name 2 athletes from different sports who are cross-sports equivalents to each other”.
Responding to the query, Bayern likened Kohli to Neuer. Their reply has gone viral on social media.
Manuel Neuer
Virat Kohli https://t.co/5VTygpZioC
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) February 27, 2024
Since his move to Bayern in the summer of 2011, Neuer has won 28 trophies, including eleven Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles in 2013 and 2020.
He has also been a vital cog in Germany’s success in the past, lifting the 2014 World Cup title, playing a crucial role in the final against Argentina in Brazil..
He drew crucial saves off Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi before Mario Gotze scored a late winner in extra-time at the Maracana.
In the ongoing Bundesliga season, however, Bayern trrail rivals Bayer Leverkusen by eight points after 23 matches. Both teams had squared off earlier this month with Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen winning 3-0 at the Bay Arena.
Meanwhile, his wife Anushka Sharna, a popular Bollywood actor, recently announced they were blessed with a baby boy – Akaay – on February 15.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have an elder daughter – Vamika. Virat Kohli has been missing from action on the cricket field for almost a month now, and their were speculations over it.
The former Indian cricket team captain ended the speculation with a post on social media.
“With abundant happiness and our hearts full of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15th February, we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika’s little brother into this world!,” Kohli informed in an instagram post.
Kohli is currently in London and is expected to return to action during the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.
