Is this another Instagram glitch? New questions arise due to disappearance of Virat Kohli’s profile; Here’s what we know

In a move that shocked the digital world, the Indian cricket legend Virat KohliOn Friday morning, January 30, 2026, the Instagram account suddenly disappeared. The profile, which has over 274 million followers, left fans in a state of confusion as it appeared to be deactivated without any warning. Users trying to reach @virat.kohli got the standard error message: “This page is not available” However, the concern was short-lived as the account was back active just a few hours later, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.

The timing of this digital “disappearance act” was particularly shocking given Kohli’s aggressive form on the pitch. He recently reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batting rankings for some time after his brilliant innings of 124 runs. new zealand earlier this month. While his Instagram went dark, his profile on X (formerly Twitter) remained active, yet “King” provided no immediate explanation for the blackout.

Virat Kohli’s Instagram profile disappears for a while: A glitch or a deliberate move?

As news of the disappearance spread, fans turned to the profile of his wife, the actor Anushka SharmaTurning your comments section into a temporary community helpdesk. The questions ranged from desperate “Where is Chikoo?“Hilarious theories about a high-level hack. Interestingly, the mystery deepened when reports emerged that Kohli’s brother, Vikas KohliAlso noticed that his account became inaccessible during the same window.

This is not the first time that Kohli has had to deal with the oddities of the stage. In May 2025, he had to issue a public clarification regarding accidental “likes” on an actress’ photo which were attributed to a malfunctioning algorithm. Given this history, many experts suspect a recurring technical glitch rather than a deliberate outage. Kohli had previously spoken about his conscious effort to distance himself from the intense energy of social media, leading some to wonder if it was a trial run for a permanent “digital detox”.

Also read: Virat Kohli’s 10-year-old tweets resurface amid Arijit Singh’s shocking retirement announcement

Kohli’s silence creates confusion among fans

The impact of Kohli’s brief absence highlights his status as more than just an athlete; She is a global digital powerhouse. As the most followed Asian person on Instagram, his account is a primary hub for brand collaborations and personal achievements. When a profile of this scale disappears, it not only impacts fans, but it creates a void in the digital marketing ecosystem.

By Friday afternoon, the account was fully restored with the verification badge and follower count intact. While neither Metta nor Kohli’s management have released any official statement, the internet has found solace in the “Nihilist Penguin” meme trend – symbolizing a quiet walk away from the noise. Whether it was a server error or a brief moment of “off-the-grid” peace, the incident proved that when the king falls silent, the world hears his echo.

Also read: ‘Just spoke to him’: Ravichandran Ashwin shuts down fan’s allegation of rift with Virat Kohli with witty reply