Video!! Cricket fans from Pakistan celebrate Virat Kohli's century

Dubai: A purported video of Pakistani fans cheering and celebrating after Kohli’s match-winning century against Pakistan itself apparently showed that love for the cricket legend, as well as his fanbase, transcends international boundaries or rivalries.

اسلام آباد میں موجود کرکٹ شائقین ویرات کوہلی کی سینچری پر خوشی مناتے ہوئے https://t.co/5KyXSQMhdh pic.twitter.com/51Uliy4GNm

— Muhammad Faizan Aslam Khan (@FaizanBinAslam1) February 23, 2025

It was on Sunday that India and Pakistan clashed in Dubai in their group-level match in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan had won the toss and decided to bat first and managed to raise a total of 241, surrendering all batters before their overs ended. Kohli anchored himself to the pitch, bringing back his vintage ODI form and playing a mature strategy.

The video that went viral on social media is apparently from Murree in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, where a screening of the game was going on. It was shared by Pakistani journalist Muhammad Faizan Aslam Khan, who captioned the video in Urudu, saying that cricket fans in Islamabad are celebrating Virat Kohli’s century. The Indian Express reported that they could not verify the authenticity of the video, which gathered 313.8K views.

A user wrote that this is what fanisam means: liking a human being beyond religion and country is great. Talent will be recognised anywhere in the world, the users said.

“King has earned this fandom, and more thing there is one and only king, and he is Virat,” a third user said. “Craze of King Kohli doesn’t know borders,” another user chimed in.

Another commented, “I seriously haven’t seen a cricketer loved in a rival country like Kohli in Pakistan.”

Virat Kohli's 51st ODI century off 111 balls helped India inch closer to a semi-final spot with a comprehensive six-wicket win over Pakistan in the high-stakes 2025 Champions Trophy Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.