Virat Kohli briefly disappearing from Instagram sent fans into a frenzy, but the Indian batting icon now appears to be back on the platform, putting an end to widespread speculation. One of the most-followed athletes in the world, Kohli has more than 274 million followers on Instagram, trailing only football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. So when his account seemed to vanish on Friday morning, it was bound to raise eyebrows.
As screenshots and theories flooded social media, concern mixed with humour. While some fans genuinely worried about Kohli’s well-being, others joked about possible digital detoxes or algorithm glitches. For now, there has been no official explanation from Kohli or his team regarding why his account was briefly inaccessible. What’s clear, though, is that the former India captain is back online.
This isn’t the first time Kohli’s social media presence has sparked debate. Over the past year, fans noticed that his Instagram feed had become largely brand-focused, especially following India’s historic Champions Trophy triumph in 2025. Unlike many of his teammates, Kohli chose not to post celebratory messages, leading some users to jokingly label his profile the “Times Square of Instagram”.
ALSO READ: Suresh Raina Backs Sanju Samson, Draws Suryakumar Yadav Parallel Amid Lean Patch
Kohli later addressed his approach to social media, explaining that posting about trophies or milestones doesn’t change reality. India winning the Champions Trophy, he said, would remain the same whether or not he shared a post about it. He also spoke candidly about the downsides of excessive screen time, admitting that doomscrolling can be distracting.
Virat Kohli after deactivating his Instagram account: pic.twitter.com/SiSJqp0atU
— Xavier Uncle (@xavierunclelite) January 29, 2026
Nah man 😭 pic.twitter.com/W1RCUHCZPm
— v. (@183innings2012) January 29, 2026
🚨🚨 Big Breaking
Virat Kohli & his brother Vikas are together, and their families are also with them. Vamika & Akaay accidentally deactivated both Virat & Vikas’s Instagram IDs.
Vamika was trying to delete Virat’s Test retirement post, but by mistake the entire account got…
— Oxygen (@Oxygen18_) January 29, 2026
Penguin who? 🐧
Virat Kohli disabled his Instagram account! pic.twitter.com/f7pvYfv068
— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) January 30, 2026
virat kohli is going to reveal his new personal brand after reactivating his instagram
— Xavier Uncle (@xavierunclelite) January 29, 2026
“Technology, when not attached to a goal, can be quite distracting,” Viray Kohli said, reflecting on how growing up without smartphones helped him maintain balance during his career.
ALSO READ: Yuzvendra Chahal Questions Sanju Samson’s Repeated Failures As T20 World Cup Pressure Mounts
On the cricketing front, Kohli has stepped away from Test and T20I cricket and now features only in ODIs for India. However, fans will still see plenty of him in action, with the star batter set to return for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. His next international assignment will be India’s white-ball tour of England later this year, ensuring that both on and off the field, Kohli remains firmly in the spotlight.
