Virat Kohli Meets Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde on 'Goodwill Visit' in London
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde concluded a successful three-day official visit to London on September 11, 2026, where he received three prestigious awards, including the Commonwealth Public Leadership Recognition and the Statesmanship Award. During his engagements, Shinde promoted investment opportunities in Maharashtra.
Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli met with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in London on Friday during the senior politician’s official three-day visit to the United Kingdom. The courtesy meeting, described by Shinde as a cordial goodwill visit, took place as both figures spent time in the British capital for separate professional and personal commitments. Photographs of the two exchanging greetings quickly circulated on social media platforms, drawing widespread interest from sports fans and political observers alike.
Virat Kohli Meets Eknath Shinde
#WATCH | Star Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in London.
They discussed a range of issues, including sports and infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/JAxC4cuTdy
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2026
During the brief interaction, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde talked with Kohli about developmental plans for Maharashtra, as both exchanged ideas on bettering sports and infrastructure in Mumbai as well.
Eknath Shine On Virat Kohli Meeting
#WATCH | London: Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, "Virat Kohli lives in London, and when he learned that I am here, he met me for a goodwill visit. I was delighted that such a big Indian cricketer, the one with the most centuries, is so down-to-earth. We had met before,… https://t.co/lzNbcdWo7n pic.twitter.com/ajmA69DOiY
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2026
Shinde's visit, which began on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, saw him arrive in London ahead of UK Parliament honours, where he was warmly welcomed by members of the Marathi community. The Deputy CM consistently emphasized Maharashtra's goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030 and cited major infrastructure projects as examples of the state's development push. His engagements were primarily focused on public service recognition and economic diplomacy.
While high-profile crossovers between Indian sporting icons and political leaders frequently capture public attention, both camps reiterated that the encounter was purely a personal courtesy call. Kohli remains one of the most followed athletes in the world, while Shinde continues to hold a prominent role in Maharashtra’s coalition government. The relaxed London setting offered a rare, informal window into two prominent public figures connecting away from domestic routine.==
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2026 05:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
