Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma paid a visit to the revered Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya on Sunday morning, just days after their previous spiritual stop at Premanand Maharaj ji’s ashram in Vrindavan. The couple’s recent series of temple visits has sparked mixed reactions online, especially in light of Kohli’s recent retirement from Test cricket.
While many fans supported the couple’s spiritual journey, others on social media questioned Kohli’s current mindset, with some claiming he’s “lost the hunger for the game” and “has no sporting spirit left.” The criticism has led to debate among cricket followers, especially those who have followed the former India captain through years of high-performance cricket.
On Tuesday, the celebrity couple was seen at the Shree Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya. In a video shared by ANI on X, Kohli and Anushka can be seen bowing their heads in reverence, receiving blessings from temple priests. They were greeted with garlands and shawls as devotees gathered around them.
Following the couple's visit, Sanjay Das Ji Maharaj, Mahant at Hanuman Garhi temple, said, "Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma have a deep love for spirituality, culture, God & Sanatana Dharma. They visited Lord Ram Lalla & then took blessings from Lord Hanuman. They also discussed spirituality & mythological things here."
The visit comes at a time when Kohli is seen embracing a more reflective phase of life, spending time with family, stepping back from longer formats of the game, and turning toward spirituality. However, this shift has not gone down well with the followers of his game, especially after his test retirement.
One X user bashed the cricketing legend, writing, "I didn't mean this is wrong; you should do it, but from the time he actually entered the path of bhakti (which is absolutely fine), his passion, his hunger towards the game, is gone."
Another wrote, "Kohli is gaining sympathy here and then will abuse the youth unnecessarily in the match; there is no use of such worship." "Now this is all he does... he's completely ruined his cricket career," one individual mentioned.
"All just for attention-seeking," added one X user. "Visiting temples is pointless if you can't remain calm," another netizen highlighted.
However, some also came out in support of the RCB batter, praising him for embracing his spiritual side.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli is set to return to the field for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday, as the team pushes to secure a spot in the top 2 ahead of the playoffs.
To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.