"He's utterly funny" - Football legend's praise for Virat Kohli

Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri praised veteran cricketer Virat Kohli, calling him a genuinely kind-hearted individual with an amazing ability to make anyone laugh. The two share a strong and heartfelt friendship, often exchanging compliments and fond words for each other.

In an ANI podcast with Smita Prakash on Sunday, December 8, Chhetri commended Kohli, pointing out that it's rare to come across someone like the former Indian captain these days. He remarked:

"Yeah, these are similarities. And I like him. He's genuinely somebody who's a nice guy. It's very rare nowadays to find someone who's genuinely nice. He's utterly funny. He can crack anyone up.”

Chhetri also noted that Kohli displays a unique on-field persona. He went on to commend Kohli's impressive career longevity and exceptional agility between the wickets.

"When you see him on the pitch, on the ground, you see a distinctly different personality as compared to others. Look at his longevity. Look at the way he runs between the wickets. Look at the way he applies himself," he said.

"Talent is one thing, but if he doesn't take care of himself, which he does tremendously well, he will not be able to do what he's doing. I mean, when did you see him last not giving his best or not being fit? Making runs and not making runs is a different part," Chhetri added.

Earlier this year, the Indian legend announced his retirement from international football. His last appearance for the country came in a 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on June 6. He scored 94 goals in 151 games for India.

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Virat Kohli fails to deliver in the second Test of the 2024-25 BGT

The former skipper made a strong impact in the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring an unbeaten century in the second innings to help India secure a convincing 295-run victory.

However, Virat Kohli's fortunes took a turn in the second (pink-ball) Test, where the Delhi-born cricketer managed scores of 7 and 11 across two innings, as India suffered a heavy 10-wicket loss.

The star batter is set to return to action in the third Test, which begins on Saturday, December 14, in Brisbane.