Former India captain Virat Kohli’s spokesperson has strongly denied a claim that the star cricketer was paid Rs 5 crore for visiting spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj’s ashram in Vrindavan.
The claim was recently attributed to Dinesh Sharma, popularly known as Falahari Maharaj. Sharma, who is the president of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, reportedly alleged that Rs 5 crore was spent to bring Kohli to the ashram.
However, there is no publicly available evidence, payment record or contract to support the claim. The allegation has also not been independently verified.
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Kohli’s Team Calls Claim ‘Completely False’
Kohli’s spokesperson has rejected the allegation and described it as false and baseless.
“We would like to categorically state that the claims made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma in regards to Mr. Virat Kohli are completely false, baseless and factually incorrect,” the spokesperson said.
The statement also made it clear that Kohli’s visits to Premanand Maharaj are connected to his personal faith and respect for the spiritual leader.
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“Mr. Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji,” the spokesperson added.
Kohli And Anushka Have Visited The Ashram Several Times
Kohli and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, have visited Premanand Maharaj in Vrindavan on multiple occasions.
Their first reported meeting with the spiritual leader took place in January 2023. Since then, the couple have returned to the ashram several times.
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The visits have often attracted considerable attention on social media, with pictures and videos of the couple meeting Premanand Maharaj going viral.
Kohli’s Recent ODI Form
Meanwhile, Kohli has returned to action in the 50-over format for India. He recently featured in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The batting great made a stunning start to the series, scoring an unbeaten 139 in Thiruvananthapuram.
That innings also saw Kohli cross the 15,000-run mark in ODI cricket. He became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the landmark.
Kohli then scored 29 in the second ODI before being dismissed for a duck in the third match. He finished the series with 168 runs.
India won the first two games, but the West Indies secured a five-wicket victory in the third ODI in New Chandigarh to save a clean sweep.
Virat Kohli's upcoming cricketing assignment
Kohli is expected to return to ODI action during India’s tour of New Zealand in November. The five-match ODI series is scheduled to start from November 4.
