During the high-intensity India vs. USA clash at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the stadium cameras panned to a young woman in the stands, inadvertently launching a massive digital mystery. Within hours, the spectator identified as Aira Rawat became the tournament's biggest viral sensation, though social media remains deeply divided over whether she is a real person or a sophisticated AI creation.

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Mystery Cricket Fan Goes Viral

Spotted in a simple blue T-shirt and white skirt, Rawat’s cheerful reactions to the match captured the internet's attention. Her Instagram following reportedly surged from a modest 3,000 to over 3.5 lakh overnight. While viral "mystery fans" are common in cricket, Rawat’s case is unique due to the "hyper-perfect" nature of her digital presence. Supporters point to her Instagram feed, which features a history of cricket-related posts, including selfies with other fans in the stands and captions expressing admiration for Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav. However, sceptics have noted that her facial symmetry, skin texture, and lighting appear almost "too flawless," leading to the trending hashtags #AIraRawat and #VirtualInfluencer.

The Rise of Virtual Influencer

The debate highlights a growing trend where AI-generated personalities, such as the famous Lil Miquela, collaborate with global brands and interact with followers just like human celebrities. In Rawat’s case, several AI detections tools and digital analysts have flagged her images as "suspicious," suggesting they may be the product of advanced CGI or generative AI. "In an era of deepfakes and generative art, the line between reality and virtuality is thinning," noted one digital analyst. "If she is an AI avatar, it marks a significant shift in how virtual personalities are being deployed in real-world live events."

Evidence of Authenticity?

Despite the AI allegations, many defend Rawat as a genuine digital creator. Her profile includes older, less-polished photos and "teenage fangirl" comments about Virat Kohli that pre-date his marriage to Anushka Sharma details that would require extensive effort for an AI developer to forge. Currently, Rawat identifies as a "Fashion Dreamer" and digital creator. While she has posted about the "electric energy" of the game, she has yet to explicitly address the AI rumours, leaving the "real vs. virtual" debate to continue as the tournament progresses.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 16, 2026 11:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).