Karan Johar explains why Virat Kohli is not part of Koffee With Karan

Indian filmmaker and Bollywood personality Karan Johar has said that he would never invite a major cricketing star, like Virat Kohli, on his popular talk show Koffee With Karan. During a recent interaction with tennis star Sania Mirza, in a rapid-fire round, Karan was asked whether any celebrities had ever turned down his invitation.

Karan first named Ranbir Kapoor, the Bollywood actor, explaining that although Ranbir appeared once on the show, he has refused to return for the past three seasons. When Sania asked whether Virat Kohli had ever been approached, Karan made it clear that he has never invited the former India captain—or any cricketer—especially after the controversy surrounding the episode featuring KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya.

As quoted by the Times of India, Karan said: “I have never asked Virat. And now, I’m not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik and Rahul.”

The 2019 episode sparked major backlash after Hardik Pandya made certain comments that created a storm on social media. Both Pandya and Rahul later issued public apologies and were handed temporary suspensions by the BCCI. At that time, Virat Kohli, who was India’s captain, distanced himself and the team from the controversy, making sure that the national side did not endorse such remarks. Since then, no cricketer has appeared on Koffee With Karan.

Virat Kohli will be back in action in the upcoming three-match home ODI series against South Africa

Meanwhile, KL Rahul recently played in India’s three-match ODI series in Australia, while Hardik Pandya missed the white-ball tour due to a left quadriceps injury he suffered during the Asia Cup 2025. The all-rounder is expected to return for the upcoming home white-ball series against South Africa.

For Kohli, who had earlier retired from both T20Is and Tests, the recent Australia ODIs marked his return to international action. After back-to-back ducks in the first two matches, he bounced back in style in the third ODI at Sydney, scoring an unbeaten 74 and stitching an unbroken 168-run partnership with Rohit Sharma. India successfully chased down the 237-run target with nine wickets and 69 balls to spare.

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