Virat Kohli vs. MS Dhoni: Who has more social media hype before the much-awaited CSK-RCB clash?

Virat Kohli eclipsed MS Dhoni as the most hyped player on social media, ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2025 clash between CSK and RCB.

Virat Kohli vs. MS Dhoni: Who has more social media hype before the much-awaited CSK-RCB clash?

Virat Kohli overtook MS Dhoni to become the most popular player on social media, ahead of CSK-RCB clash. (via X)

Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni are two stalwarts, who command a massive fanfare among cricket fans across the country. A recent analysis by Star Sports revealed who is ahead on social media, while comparing Dhoni and Kohli.

The two players have shared many great moments during their time together for the Indian national team. A 19-year-old Virat Kohli back in 2008, broke into the Indian team under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. He played his first ODI against Sri Lanka. Kohli has not looked back since then, having risen through the ranks. He went on to attain the status of a legend, becoming the nation’s second-highest run-scorer.

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MS Dhoni on the other hand, had a remarkable career himself. He served as the captain of the Indian team from 2007 to 2017. Dhoni guided India to three major ICC trophies, which include an ODI and a T20 World Cup, and a Champions Trophy. He retired in August 2020, after having handed over the baton to lead the national team to his most-trusted successor, Virat Kohli, back in 2017. 

Dhoni and Kohli have never played together for an IPL franchise. The former World Cup winning captain has played for Chennai Super Kings over the years. Kohli on the other hand has demonstrated his commitment to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, since the inaugural IPL season. The two teams have an intense rivalry, which extends beyond the pitch.

Moreover, it intensified at the end of the final group stage encounter between the two sides in the IPL last season. RCB claimed a surprising 27-run victory. It denied the Yellow Army the opportunity to make it through to the play-offs. The match sparked a heated social media war, with fans of the two sides engaging in heated social media exchanges and banter, more than ever.

Ahead of the much-awaited clash between the two sides this season, Star Sports shared an image, comparing MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli’s popularity on social media. The viral stat depicts that ‘King’ Kohli has created more social media hype. While Dhoni’s influence covers five states in India and 45 percent of the cricket-loving population, Kohli is popular among a majority, 55 percent of the fans.

Nonetheless, the 43-year-old’s on-field influence remains intact, with the wicket-keeper batsman, possibly in the final stages of his IPL career, attracting crowds across stadiums in India. Meanwhile, keeping aside the social media buzz, Dhoni’s CSK are way ahead of their rivals on head-to-head, having won 21 out of the 33 matches they played against RCB. 

MS Dhoni opens up about his relationship with Virat Kohli, talks about the ‘senior-junior’ line between them

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni in a recent interview with JioHotstar, opened up about his relationship with Virat Kohli, having spent 11 years in Indian colours together. Kohli was a successor to the World Cup winning captain, who handed over the captaincy to Kohli in 2017. 

MS Dhoni relationship with Virat Kohli
MS Dhoni revealed that there is a ‘senior-junior’ line that exists between him and Virat Kohli. (via YouTube)

Virat Kohli had debuted for India under Dhoni’s leadership back in 2008, after coming off a victorious U-19 World Cup campaign. While there is a friendship between the two that evolved over time, Dhoni recently revealed that there has been a ‘senior-junior’ line separating them. He added that he tried to mentor Kohli at every juncture possible, as Kohli was a newcomer at a time and he was the captain of the Indian team. 

I was more like a captain and a newcomer at that point in time, but once you keep interacting, you become friends. But I still feel we have that line in the middle, about the senior and a junior, although still friends. 

MS Dhoni on his relationship with Virat Kohli

Nonetheless, Virat Kohli’s stint as India’s captain did not last long, as he stepped down as the T20I skipper after a disastrous 2021 T20 World Cup campaign. He was soon after sacked from the post in the other formats too, with Rohit Sharma being handed the role.