Ace India batter Virat Kohli returned to India on Saturday, December 13, flying in from London nearly two weeks ahead of his reported appearance for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Kohli’s arrival instantly sparked excitement among fans, not just for his potential domestic return but also for growing speculation of a possible meeting with football icon Lionel Messi during the Argentine superstar’s ongoing India tour.

Kohli was spotted landing in Mumbai with his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, after wrapping up international commitments. The former India captain had travelled overseas following the conclusion of India’s three-match ODI series against South Africa, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s success.

His early return has further strengthened reports that he could feature for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, in line with the BCCI’s directive encouraging centrally contracted players to participate in domestic cricket.

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Adding intrigue to Kohli’s return is Lionel Messi’s high-profile visit to India as part of the GOAT India tour. Messi arrived in Kolkata on December 13 and is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on December 14, where he will attend a fan event at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. With both global sporting icons in Mumbai around the same time, fans have begun buzzing about the possibility of a rare Kohli-Messi interaction.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma snapped at the Private Airport, Mumbai🥹🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/X0nxSJOVFr

— 𝙒𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣🥂 (@wrognxvirat) December 13, 2025

However, Messi’s brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata drew criticism. His visit reportedly lasted just 22 minutes, highlighting organisational shortcomings that have plagued the tour. Scenes of overcrowding, VIP congestion, and poor crowd management overshadowed what was meant to be a historic moment for Indian football.

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Messi’s visit comes at a difficult time for the sport in India, with the national team slipping to 142nd in the FIFA rankings—its lowest since 2016. For many fans, the chaos surrounding the Kolkata event reflected deeper governance issues rather than the celebration of a global football legend.

As Kohli settles back into Indian conditions and Messi continues his tour, the spotlight remains firmly on Mumbai, where two sporting worlds could briefly collide.