First sell-out crowd of Champions Trophy in Lahore, features a Virat Kohli fan

Champions Trophy 2025: A fan, wearing Virat Kohli's jersey no.18, attended Saturday's match between England and Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Kohli will play in the match against Pakistan on Sunday.

In Short

• A Virat Kohli fan attended the England vs Australia clash
• Tickets were sold out within 90 minutes of release
• Virat Kohli will be in action on Sunday against Pakistan

The Champions Trophy 2025 witnessed its first sold-out encounter as Jos Buttler’s England and Steve Smith’s Australia locked horns on Saturday, February 22, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The overwhelming demand saw tickets selling out within 90 minutes of release, with over 20,000 fans attempting to secure seats.

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Amidst the sea of spectators, a fan was spotted wearing an Indian jersey with "Kohli" written on it. The fan sported jersey number 18, highlighting Kohli's immense global following. This gesture underscores how Kohli's influence transcends national boundaries, uniting cricket enthusiasts worldwide.

The electrifying atmosphere at the Lahore venue not only celebrated the historic England-Australia rivalry but also showcased cricket’s unique ability to bring fans together across cultures and countries.

Virat Kohli set to play against Pakistan

Kohli is focused on regaining top form ahead of India’s Champions Trophy showdown with Pakistan on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. On the eve of the match, he arrived for training 90 minutes early. Accompanied by assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, he reached the venue well before India’s scheduled practice session, which began at 1 PM local time (2:30 PM IST).

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On Kohli focusing more on training, former batter Sanjay Manjrekar, while speaking on Star Sports, said, "I think he is trying too hard. Coming 90 minutes earlier to practice is a sign. He can come two minutes before the match and get going. I think he is trying a bit too much."

Meanwhile, 2015 World Cup-winning Australian captain Michael Clarke supported the star batter, emphasising that ruling Kohli out would be premature and predicting that he might "flip a switch" on the big day against Pakistan.

“You might have watched him the other day and thought he wasn't at his best, but he steps up when India need him most. Don't be surprised if it happens against Pakistan on the big day," Clarke said.

Kohli scored 22 runs off 38 balls with one four against Bangladesh before Rishad Hossain dismissed him.