Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding Anil Kumble's exit from the post of the Indian cricket team's head coach, swashbuckling skipper Virat Kohli's popularity continues to grow.
The 28-year-old has added one more feather to his cap as he has become the second most followed Indian on Facebook with over 35 million followers to his name.
Kohli, who is currently leading the Indian team in West Indies for the limited-overs series, is now just behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has 42.2 million Facebook followers.
He, however, is the most popular celebrity on Facebook in the country, surpassing Bollywood superstar Salman Khan by more than 6, 00,000 followers to surge to top of the list.
After replacing Mahendra Singh Dhoni as skipper, Kohli guided India to Test series wins against New Zealand, England and Australia before leading RCB in the tenth season of the Indian Premier League (ISL).
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
)