The Australian Rules Football (AFL) players have showered legendary Indian cricketer i with massive praise, calling the a ‘rockstar of world sport’ whose fierceness and competitive spirit would easily translate into their game.
Several AFL players have noted in a recent video posted on AFL that Kohli’s star power, ferocity, and unwavering attitude reflect the toughness and fervour of Australian football. Darcy Moore, the captain of Collingwood, called Kohli a ‘rockstar’ with unquestionable appeal around the world and said he would fit right in as a goal scorer.
AFL Players Praise Virat Kohli
Lachie Neale, a star for the Brisbane Lions, shared the admiration, referring to Kohli as a ‘superstar of the world’ and speculating that the former India captain would flourish in the midfield, which is the site of the AFL’s fiercest physical clashes and is sometimes referred to as ‘argie bargie’.
Even Australian football legend Tim Cahill, who has close ties to Australia’s sporting community, has commended Kohli’s humility and work ethic, calling him a worldwide role model respected outside of cricket.
Players and supporters have proposed a number of scenarios for Kohli’s AFL role. Similar to Toby Greene’s high-impact approach, he is a perfect fit for a small forward or forward pocket role due to his mobility and attacking instincts. Others think he would be a perfect midfielder who could affect games all over the world because of his exceptional fitness and aggressive demeanour. Some even speculate that he could be able to compete with a target man in physical duels due to his strength and self-assurance.
Greene’s confrontational style has often been compared to Kohli’s aggressiveness, and Australian cricket players like Steve Smith have called him the ‘most Australian’ non-Australian due to his intense competitive spirit.
The conclusion is apparent across codes: sportsmen in one of Australia’s most competitive athletic environments admire Kohli because of his charm, intensity, and aura, which go beyond cricket.
As for the cricketing side, Kohli is currently representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). RCB are the defending champions and are currently at the number 2 spot in the points table with 8 points in 6 games. He is also one of the leading run-scorers in the tournament with 247 runs in 6 matches with an average of 49.40 and a strike rate of 157.32.