Virat Kohli once again found himself at the centre of attention, this time at the glittering One8 event in New Delhi, where he shared the stage with Punjabi music star Karan Aujla. The evening produced one of the biggest talking points of the night when Kohli walked out while Aujla was performing his hit track Winning Speech.
The former India captain joined the singer on stage, and the two broke into an impromptu dance, instantly lifting the energy in the packed venue and drawing loud cheers from the crowd. What made the moment even more special was Kohli’s candid explanation of why the song means so much to him.
Speaking during an interaction on stage, Virat Kohli said he had been a fan of Aujla’s music long before the two became friends. He praised the singer for writing from the heart and for bringing his own life story into his songs, which, according to Kohli, makes the music more powerful and relatable. For him, Winning Speech stands out above the rest because it connects on a deeper level.
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Kohli then opened up about the personal reason behind that connection. He said he saw striking similarities between Aujla’s journey and his own, particularly the pain of losing a father at a young age. That shared experience, Kohli admitted, is what makes the track especially meaningful to him. He also revealed that he has often listened to the song before going out to play matches, suggesting that it has become part of his mental preparation and emotional rhythm before big games.
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“It explains the journey he has been through, and I have felt a bit of similarity in it with my journey as well. I also lost my dad when I was pretty young. So, that song is quite special for me. I have heard it often before going to play matches,” Kohli said.
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The appearance came at a time when Kohli continues to remain a major talking point in Indian cricket. The batting great is likely to be included in the squad for the upcoming ODI series in England, although his selection will depend on fitness clearance. He had suffered an injury during the IPL 2026 final and was later ruled out of the recent ODI series against Afghanistan. Even away from the field, however, Kohli continues to command attention, whether through cricket, music or the emotional honesty that has long defined his public persona.
