Virat Kohli was recently seen in action for India in West Indies in ODIs.
The remark was made in response to a claim made by Dinesh Sharma, better known online as Falahari Maharaj, that appeared in news articles and on social media. The head of the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sangharsh Nyas, Sharma, had claimed that Kohli's visit to Premanand Maharaj cost his ashram INR 5 crore.
The allegation has not been independently verified. No publicly available payment record, contract, or other evidence has emerged to establish that Kohli received Rs 5 crore for visiting the ashram.
Responding to the claim, Kohli's spokesperson said the allegations were "completely false, baseless, and factually incorrect."
“We would like to categorically state that the claims made by Falahari Maharaj Dinesh Sharma in regard to Mr. Virat Kohli are completely false, baseless, and factually incorrect,” the spokesperson stated.
Furthermore, the statement established that Virat Kohli’s visits to Premanand Maharaj are only out of personal faith and respect.
"Mr. Virat Kohli visits Premanand Maharaj Ji purely out of his deep faith and reverence for Maharaj Ji," the statement said.
Kohli, who recently scored his 55th ODI century in the first ODI of the recent three-game series against West Indies. He made an unbeaten 139 in Kerala and also became the second batter to the milestone of 15,000 ODI runs. However, he followed with 29 and 0 in the next two games.
Kohli will be next in action in New Zealand when India visits for a series of five ODIs, five T20Is, and two Tests.