Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli has made a significant change to his Instagram profile, removing all promotional posts and paid partnerships from his main feed. On April 9, 2025, fans noticed that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batsman had completely reorganized his social media presence, creating quite a stir among his 271 million followers.
However, there’s a catch to this digital revamp. Rather than abandoning brand endorsements entirely, Kohli has simply relocated all advertising content to his reels section, while keeping his main posts feed dedicated to personal updates, family moments, training sessions, and his own business ventures.
The Strategic Separation Of Personal And Promotional Content
The restructuring creates a clear distinction between Kohli’s personal life and commercial endeavors. His main feed, which serves as the homepage of his Instagram account, now showcases a cleaner aesthetic without the interruption of sponsored posts. Meanwhile, all advertising and promotional material remains accessible in the reels section.
This move appears to be strategic rather than an abandonment of brand partnerships. As the most followed Asian on Instagram, Kohli’s influence on the platform is substantial, with only football icons Cristiano Ronaldo (651 million) and Lionel Messi (505 million) having larger followings among sports personalities.
Fan Reactions To The Instagram Makeover
Fans have responded positively to the change, with many appreciating the cleaner look of Kohli’s profile.
“Ads moved to reels section, the feed looks so good,” commented one follower on Kohli’s recent post about his One18 restaurant’s new branch in Gurugram.
Another fan simply questioned, “King Kohli removed all the advertisements in his account?” highlighting the noticeable transformation that caught many by surprise.
Possible Business Motivations Behind The Change
While there has been no official statement from Kohli or his team regarding the reasoning behind this digital reorganization, marketing experts suggest it could be a clever business decision. By clearing his main feed of third-party advertisements, Kohli effectively gives more visibility to his own ventures.
The posts section, which users see first when visiting a profile, now exclusively features content related to his personal life and his own business interests, including his restaurant chain One18 and fashion brand WROGN. This strategic placement could drive more attention to his entrepreneurial efforts without abandoning lucrative endorsement deals.
Kohli’s Current IPL Performance
Beyond his social media activities, Kohli remains focused on his cricket career, particularly in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025. Playing for RCB, he has amassed 164 runs in four matches with two half-centuries, contributing significantly to his team’s impressive start to the season.
Under new captain Rajat Patidar, RCB has won three of their first four matches, defeating the three most successful IPL teams – Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders – all in away games. Their next challenge comes against the unbeaten Delhi Capitals on April 10 at their home venue, M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Instagram Influence And Marketing Power
Kohli’s Instagram presence represents a powerful marketing tool. His most liked post to date was after India’s 2024 World Cup victory, which garnered almost 22 million likes. With such enormous reach, even minor changes to his profile generate significant interest and discussion.
As one of cricket’s most marketable personalities, Kohli’s endorsement portfolio is extensive. By reorganizing rather than eliminating sponsored content, he maintains these valuable partnerships while creating a more personal connection with followers through his main feed.
The Evolving Social Media Strategy Of Sports Icons
This Instagram reorganization reflects a growing trend among celebrities to more deliberately curate their social media presence. For high-profile athletes like Kohli, whose personal brand carries immense value, creating a distinction between commercial content and personal posts can help maintain authenticity while still capitalizing on endorsement opportunities.
Whether this change indicates a broader shift in Kohli’s overall brand strategy or simply a cosmetic adjustment remains to be seen. What’s clear is that as both a cricketer and a digital influencer, Kohli continues to evolve his approach to connecting with fans and managing his public image, both on and off the field.
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