Virat Kohli recently shared a heartfelt "full-circle" moment in New Delhi, visiting his roots to inaugurate a new branch of the West Delhi Cricket Academy (WDCA) at DPS RK Puram. The event, held on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, highlighted the enduring bond between Kohli and his childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma. Kohli skipped an early flight during the busy IPL 2026 season to stay in Delhi for the ceremony. In a display of deep traditional respect, Kohli touched the feet of his mentor Rajkumar Sharma during the event.

Photos of the moment quickly trended, with fans praising Kohli for staying "grounded" despite his "King Kohli" status.After the gesture, Kohli told the students, "Whatever I am today is because of the discipline I learned here. Never think you are bigger than the game or your teacher.”

When a starstruck student later tried to touch Kohli’s feet, he gently stopped the youngster, offering a handshake and words of encouragement instead. The inauguration followed a historic night at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where Kohli became the first player to cross 9,000 IPL runs during RCB's 9-wicket win over Delhi Capitals. 

Virat Kohli inaugurates WDCA in his hometown, New Delhi 

The WDCA is where the "King Kohli" story began in 1998. This new branch aims to provide world-class facilities to Delhi’s aspiring cricketers, replicating the environment that produced one of the world's greatest batters. Despite being in the middle of a grueling IPL schedule with RCB, Kohli stayed back in Delhi specifically for this event. Instead of a standard celebrity appearance, Kohli engaged deeply with the young cricketers present. He delivered a stirring speech, telling students that while talent is common, "honesty to the craft" is what separates professionals from legends.

DDCA President Rohan Jaitley shared the stage, noting that Kohli’s presence at the grassroots level does more for Delhi cricket than any stadium upgrade could. Just a night earlier at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, he became the first player to reach 9,000 IPL runs.