'Is That Virat Kohli?' Cricketer's Lookalike Leads Celebrations After Sheikh Hasina's Ouster In Bangladesh

After a month-long anti-quota stir, which then turned anti-government, Sheikh Hasina resigned as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and fled the country on August 5. The country was jubilant and protesters celebrated on the roads.

Surprisingly, during the celebrations, a man, who had an uncanny resemblance with Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, was spotted. In the video, the lookalike, wearing a Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) cap and sitting on the shoulders of a friend, was seen chanting slogans.

The video of Virat Kohli’s doppelganger has sparked a frenzy of reactions and views on the internet. Since being shared on X (formerly Twitter), the video garnered more than 1 lakh views.

The caption accompanying the video read, “King Kohli joins the victory celebration at the streets of Chattogram, #Bangladesh (sic).”

A user humorously stated, “Kohli finding time from his busy schedule, the man, the myth, the legend!!”

Another user added, “King Kohli joins the celebration in Chattogram—what a moment!”

Tagging Virat Kholi, a user asked, “what are you doing here.”

“King Kohli from Mesho”, read a comment.

Bangladesh’s quota system reserved 56% of government posts for certain groups — including 30% for the children of freedom fighters who participated in the 1971 War of Independence. In July, the protests against what the students called a “discriminatory policy” started and swept across the country.

The authorities implemented a curfew, shut down internet and telecommunications, and closed colleges and institutions. Student leaders were then taken into custody and forced to retract their list of demands. At least 300 people, a vast majority of them demonstrators, were killed in police and security force action ordered by the Hasina government.

On Monday, as thousands of demonstrators assembled to march across Dhaka against the curfew, the prime minister announced her resignation and fled the nation.

Hasina’s resignation marks the end of the Awami League’s rule in Bangladesh, at least temporarily.

Student leaders have compiled a list of people they like to see in the interim government.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has agreed to serve as the main adviser. Meanwhile, leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party are battling for roles in the interim administration.