Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in London on Friday (September 11). During the meeting, they discussed a wide range of topics, including sports, infrastructure, and state development initiatives.
Shinde, who was in UK to receive the Statesmanship Award from the World Leadership Forum, revealed that Kohli visited him upon learning of his presence in London.
Following the interaction, Shinde highly praised Kohli, describing the legendary cricketer as exceptionally "down-to-earth" despite his massive global stature.
“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, but I was particularly happy with the direct conversation we had today. We also discussed the award I received. I told him about various welfare schemes in Maharashtra. I spoke about infrastructure, and he himself remarked that the development Maharashtra has seen in recent years is unprecedented,” Shinde quoted as saying by ANI.
Shinde briefed Kohli on landmark projects like the Atal Setu, Third Mumbai development near the airport, and the Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg
“I also shared our future plans and the infrastructure projects currently underway, such as the ‘Third Mumbai’ development near the airport, the Atal Setu, the Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg, the coastal road, the metro, and initiatives regarding schools and healthcare,” he added.
They also brainstormed actionable ideas to help the upcoming generation of athletes excel in international competitions and properly nurture sports talent across the country.
“We discussed all these matters, and I highlighted the work we are doing on infrastructure in Maharashtra. The state currently ranks number one in GDP, startups, infrastructure, and FDI. He was delighted to hear about the transformation and development taking place in Maharashtra, recognising the positive impact these initiatives will have on people’s lives. The award I received was also based on these very themes: infrastructure, development, the ‘Ladli Behna’ scheme and the ‘Government at Your Doorstep’ initiative. We discussed these topics, and he was very pleased,” Shinde remarked.
“I, too, was happy to meet him. We discussed how to help the new generation excel in competitions and how to nurture their talent—after all, the youth are the future of our country. He shared some valuable ideas in this regard, which will undoubtedly benefit both Maharashtra and the nation,” he concluded.
Having retired from T20Is and Tests, Virat Kohli is now exclusively focusing on the 50-over format. The ace batter, who spends a significant amount of his time residing in London with his family, is slated to return to competitive action for India later this month when India will play the West Indies in a three-match ODI series at home from September 27 to October 3.
(With ANI Inputs)
