London: Virat Kohli’s Instagram account briefly vanished on Friday, sending his massive following of over 274 million into a state of alarm.
The cricket icon’s verified profile suddenly became inaccessible, displaying error messages such as “This page isn’t available” or “The link may be broken” when fans tried to visit @virat.kohli. The disappearance of one of the most-followed athlete accounts worldwide sparked chaos online, with fans flooding social media platforms and turning to his wife, actress Anushka Sharma’s posts, leaving frantic comments for updates and explanations.
Soon, hashtags related to Kohli’s missing account began trending across platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and fan forums. Theories ran rampant over possible hacking, account deletion, or deactivation. Some fans even spun humorous theories, suggesting the cricketer was inspired by “digital detox” trends.
Hours later, Kohli’s Instagram account reappeared intact, with all posts and followers restored.
Neither Kohli’s team nor Meta (Instagram’s parent company) issued any official statement about the glitch or deliberate deactivation. The silence has only fuelled speculation, with fans debating whether it was a technical glitch, a security issue, or a personal choice. Kohli’s Instagram presence is a major platform for his brand endorsements, fitness updates, and personal moments with family. The temporary disappearance highlighted the dependency of celebrities on social media visibility, and how even a few hours offline can spark nationwide buzz.
