Bollywood actress and Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta has clarified that her much-talked-about interaction with Virat Kohli during the IPL 2025 match wasn’t about cricket—but their children.
Photos of Zinta and Kohli chatting during the April 22 match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore went viral, sparking fan curiosity. In the widely shared images, Kohli appeared to be showing something on his phone to Zinta, prompting speculation about the nature of their discussion.
On April 28, responding to a fan on X (formerly Twitter), Zinta addressed the buzz, stating, “We were showing each other pictures of our children & talking about them! Time does fly… When I first met Virat 18 years ago, he was a spirited teenager buzzing with talent & fire — today he still has that fire & is an icon & a very sweet & doting father.”
Zinta and husband Gene Goodenough are parents to twins, Jai and Zia, born via surrogacy. Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma are parents to daughter Vamika (born in 2021) and son Akaay (born in February 2024). The couple is known for maintaining privacy around their children and currently reside in London.
The April 22 match in Mullanpur saw Punjab Kings emerge victorious, with Kohli scoring an unbeaten 73 runs. Zinta congratulated him post-match, and their exchange was captured on camera, fueling online discussion until Zinta cleared the air.
The heartwarming conversation marked nearly two decades since the two first met. Zinta reminisced about Kohli’s early days in cricket, noting how he’s evolved both professionally and personally.
In the same fan session, Zinta also shared insights about her film career, highlighting Kya Kehna and Veer-Zaara as milestones. On dealing with social media negativity, she mentioned that while she typically ignores trolls, she occasionally claps back.
Kohli remains a key player for RCB in IPL 2025, while Zinta continues to play a hands-on role with Punjab Kings.
