A heckler in Sri Lanka taunted Virat Kohli, calling him “Chokli.” In response, Virat Kohli looked visibly upset, glaring at the heckler. The clip went viral on social media. The incident occurred as Kohli and his teammates, including Rohit Sharma, arrived in Sri Lanka for India’s upcoming ODI series.
While Kohli was preparing in the locker room, intensely focused on his shadow practice, a fan managed to capture footage of him. During this moment, the fan began chanting “Chokli, Chokli.” This term is often used by trolls to suggest that Kohli underperforms in crucial knockout matches for India, even though he just gave a match-winning performance in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup not long ago.
The chant immediately caught Kohli’s attention. He turned towards the heckler, visibly upset, and glared at the individual. Kohli’s reaction, marked by a stern look, conveyed his displeasure at the taunt. He reportedly responded to the heckler by saying, “Not here.”
The term “Chokli” gained notoriety after India’s exit from the 2019 World Cup, where Kohli was dismissed for just 1 run in a critical knockout match. It was the third instance in which Kohli had been dismissed for 1 run in an ICC knockout game, following similar performances in the 2015 World Cup semi-final against Australia and the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan. The term feels outdated, considering his iconic performance in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup against South Africa. Kohli scored 76 off 59 for India, earning himself the Man of the Match award.
India’s ODI series against Sri Lanka will kick off on August 2, with subsequent matches scheduled for August 4 and August 7. The series marks an important phase for the Indian team following their performance in the recent T20 World Cup.