Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli meet specially-abled kid in Kerala, gesture wins hearts - Watch

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli met a specially-abled kid ahead of the series opener against the West Indies in Thiruvananthapuram.

Updated on: Sep 26, 2026, 10:24:54 IST

Written by Vishesh Roy

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return to action on Sunday with the three-match ODI series against the West Indies. The duo last played for India in the UK, but the series saw the Men in Blue go down. The two senior statesmen have already linked up with the squad in Thiruvananthapuram, and the preparations for the series opener are in full flow. Ahead of the first ODI, RoKo were seen interacting with a specially-abled kid, and the little one couldn't stop smiling.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli met a specially-abled kid (Screengrabs - X)

Virat, the former India captain, was the first to meet the kid and was seen interacting with his father. After a brief chat, he gave his autograph and returned to the training session. Then Rohit came out to have a brief conversation with the kid, and the Hitman even patted his back.

Also Read: ‘Pick Virat’s brain, speak to Rohit': India's bowling coach details plan to tap veteran know-how for Shubman Gill's team

The kid then asked Rohit, “Can I have your autograph?”, to which the former India captain replied, “Yes, sure.”

Both Rohit and Virat are the key players to watch out for in the series against the West Indies as the Men in Blue prepare for the 2027 ODI World Cup. The results in the 50-over format have been mixed ever since Gautam Gambhir took over as the head coach. India have already lost two ODI series to New Zealand and England this year, and the head coach would hope fortunes change.

What did the Indian coaches say?

Ahead of the first ODI, India's bowling coach Morne Morkel heaped praise on skipper Shubman Gill, saying the skipper has been aided by the presence of both Rohit and Virat, and the duo have been exceptional in sharing their experience with Gill, who was appointed as the captain last year ahead of the away series against Australia.

“It is always great to have that experience back in the team. Just to guide Shubman as well, I must say Shubman has done an exceptional job so far leading the team. But I am always a big believer in your senior players and how they shape the team. I think different players in the team will feel more comfortable speaking to a certain senior individual and we are quite fortunate that we have got a lot of experience in that," Morkel told reporters.

“We are quite fortunate that we have got that experience with the senior players and for us it is just to keep on challenging the guys to have the conversation with the senior guys. We always throw out as many questions as possible in team meetings for the senior guys to speak and to share their experience," Morkel added.

Keytakeaways

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli exemplify the role of athletes as positive influencers in society.
Interactions with fans, especially those with disabilities, can create memorable moments that inspire joy.
Experience in the team is crucial for mentoring younger players and enhancing team dynamics.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishesh Roy
Vishesh Roy is a sports journalist with a strong focus on cricket. He began his career at Asian News International (ANI), where he covered a range of high-profile events, including the India Open, Legends Cricket League, the England–India Test series in Ahmedabad in 2021, and the inauguration of the Narendra Modi Stadium. During his tenure at ANI, he also reported extensively on domestic cricket, covering several Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy matches across the country. While cricket remains his primary beat, Vishesh has also reported on tennis, football and WWE. After a stint of over three years at ANI, Vishesh moved to NDTV, where he gained hands-on experience in digital-first journalism, with a particular emphasis on live blogs and real-time news reporting. He joined Hindustan Times in October 2024 and quickly established himself with a series of exclusive interviews and source-driven stories. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Hindustan Times was the first to report that the two-day event would be held in Saudi Arabia. In the early months of his tenure, Vishesh secured interviews with leading cricketers, including Pat Cummins, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rashid Latif. He has also closely tracked the rise of emerging talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya by speaking to their current and childhood coaches. His background in on-field reporting has helped Hindustan Times Digital break exclusive stories on major developments, including Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji and Vijay Hazare Trophy, IPL scheduling, and the T20 World Cup controversy involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.Read More

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