[WATCH] Crowd chants ‘Kohli Kohli’ at event featuring Mohammed Siraj; bowler's reaction goes viral

Star pacer Mohammed Siraj may have moved on from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, but the bond he shares with former India captain Virat Kohli continues to follow him. During a recent Skechers promotional event, fans erupted in loud chants of “Kohli Kohli” and “RCB RCB” the moment Siraj appeared on stage. However, the pacer responded with a smile and waved back at them.

The event was part of Skechers’ launch of its new GO WALK collection in India. The global footwear brand recently partnered with Siraj and Bollywood actor Alaya F to promote its comfort-centric walking range. The 31-year-old, who last played for India during the Test series in South Africa, was the star guest at the mall activation. But as soon as he was introduced, the crowd started chanting the name of Kohli and RCB.

Watch the video below: 

Aakash Chopra questions why Siraj has become one-format player

Meanwhile, the two cricketers share a close bond that developed during Siraj’s stint with RCB, where Kohli backed him consistently from the time he joined the franchise and later in the Indian team. Siraj remained with RCB until 2024 before shifting to the Gujarat Titans, but the fans still associate him closely with his former team.

Notably, talks around Siraj's reduced role in the Indian team have grabbed immense attention. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned why the pacer has been pushed into becoming a one-format player. Despite once being India’s leading ODI wicket-taker in a calendar year, Siraj has barely featured in white-ball cricket since 2024. With Kohli retiring from T20Is and Tests, ODIs remain the only format where the two could potentially play together again for India, but Siraj is currently absent from the squad.

“But how did he vanish from ODI cricket? He is playing domestic cricket currently. When he was not picked for the Champions Trophy, we were a little disappointed because two years prior to that, he was the highest wicket-taker for India in that format,” Chopra said.