In a rare personal moment during a high-stakes military briefing, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, declared his admiration for Virat Kohli, calling the former Indian Test captain his “favourite player.”
The comment came during the Indian Armed Forces’ joint 2:30 PM press conference held at the National Media Centre on Monday, where top military officials addressed the nation following the successful conclusion of Operation Sindoor and the ongoing ceasefire dialogue with Pakistan.
While the focus of the briefing was on the operational success and strategic updates, Lt Gen Ghai’s light-hearted remark on Kohli drew attention and reflected the former captain’s emotional connection with the armed forces, particularly following his retirement from Test cricket.
Earlier in the briefing, Lt Gen Ghai had made a poignant statement about the shift in terrorist activities in recent years, stating:
“In the last few years, the character of terrorist activities has changed. Innocent civilians were being attacked… ‘Pahalgam tak paap ka ye ghada bhar chuka tha’.”
His remarks underscored the motivation behind India’s calibrated strikes under Operation Sindoor, which neutralized over 100 terrorists across multiple targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Kohli’s name being invoked in a national security context highlights the cultural footprint of Indian cricket stars, even in the nation’s defence discourse.
