The digital world was sent into a tailspin as Virat Kohli’s Instagram account, boasting over 274 million followers, mysteriously vanished from the platform. The King’s sudden absence triggered widespread panic and speculation across social media, only for the profile to be fully restored a few hours later. While the account is now active again, neither Kohli nor Meta has provided an official explanation for the brief blackout. Virat Kohli’s Instagram Account Back After ‘User Not Found’ Glitch.

Overnight Disappearance and Fan Panic

The issue was first noticed in the early hours of Friday, 30 January 2026. Users attempting to visit @virat.kohli were met with the dreaded 'Page not available' or 'User not found' error messages. Within an hour, hashtags related to the Indian cricketer began trending globally on X (formerly Twitter).

Adding to the mystery, the Instagram profile of Kohli’s elder brother, Vikas Kohli, also became inaccessible around the same time. While Virat’s account reappeared by 8:30 am IST, Vikas’s profile reportedly remained inactive for longer, fueling theories ranging from a coordinated hacking attempt to a temporary technical glitch within Meta’s servers.

Speculation and Bhaabhi Comments

In the absence of official word, fans turned to the Instagram page of Kohli’s wife, actor Anushka Sharma. Her recent posts were quickly flooded with thousands of comments from anxious supporters. Phrases like 'Bhaabhi, bhaiya ka account kahan gaya?' (Sister-in-law, where did brother's account go?) went viral, as fans used her profile as a makeshift community helpdesk. Virat Kohli’s Instagram Account Deactivated? Fans Left Guessing Over Sudden Disappearance.

Humour also played a role in the chaos. Many users linked the disappearance to the viral nihilist penguin' meme trend of 2026, joking that Kohli had simply 'walked off the internet' without explanation. Others speculated about a potential 'digital detox' or even an impending retirement announcement, though the latter was quickly dismissed given his current red-hot form.

Despite the social media drama, Kohli’s professional commitments remain on track. He is currently in London spending time with his family before returning to India for the IPL 2026 season, where he will lead the charge for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their title defence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2026 11:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).