Google India highlights ‘Virat Kohli Trend’ as searches cross 1 million after Vijay Hazare Trophy century

Virat Kohli

• Virat Kohli scored 131 in his Vijay Hazare Trophy return after 15 years
• Kohli-related Google searches crossed 1 million during his century for Delhi
• Delhi chased Andhra's 298 with Kohli completing 1,000 List A runs for the team

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Virat Kohli’s return to domestic 50-over cricket after more than a decade did not just light up the scorecard, it also set Google Search buzzing across the country. On the day the Indian batting great smashed a commanding century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Google India acknowledged the surge in interest, revealing that Kohli-related searches crossed the one million mark within hours.

The moment came during Kohli’s appearance for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, his first List A match for the side in 12 years and his first appearance in the tournament in 15 years. The innings itself was vintage Kohli. Batting with authority and intent, he scored 131 off 101 balls, striking 14 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of over 129. The knock featured the full range of his trademark shots, from crisp cover drives to elegant straight hits, combined with sharp running between the wickets.

Google India marked the occasion with two celebratory posts on X. In the first, the company wrote, “Refreshing 181818 times on Search,” a clear nod to Kohli’s iconic jersey number 18 and the obsessive refresh behaviour of fans tracking every update. The post captured how supporters across the country were repeatedly searching for live scores and match details as the innings unfolded.

The second post underlined the scale of interest. According to Google India, the Delhi vs Andhra match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy remained the most searched topic on Google in India for over ten hours. Searches related to the live score and match updates crossed one million, a figure Google summed up with the caption “+1M Aura.” Screenshots of the post were widely shared by fans, adding another layer to the celebration around Kohli’s comeback.

On the field, the numbers were just as impressive. With this innings, Virat Kohli completed 1,000 List A runs for Delhi. In 18 matches and 17 innings for the side, he has now scored 1,041 runs at an average of 65.06, including five centuries and four fifties, with a highest score of 131. Across his broader List A career, Kohli has amassed 16,130 runs in 343 matches at an average of 57.60, striking at nearly 94, with 58 centuries and 84 half-centuries.

The match itself saw Andhra Pradesh post a competitive 298 for 8 after being put in to bat. Ricky Bhui led the charge with 122 off 105 balls, while Delhi’s bowlers were led by Simarjeet Singh, who claimed five wickets. In response, Delhi lost an early wicket, but a fluent 113-run partnership between Priyansh Arya and Kohli steadied the chase. A further 160-run stand between Kohli and Nitish Rana put Delhi firmly in control before Kohli was eventually dismissed.

Despite the quality of cricket on display, fans were unable to witness the innings in person. Matches were shifted away from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after the Karnataka government declined permission on security grounds, leaving the venue out of bounds for spectators.

Even so, the reaction online made it clear that Kohli’s pull remains unmatched. His domestic return did not just remind observers of his class, it also demonstrated how a single innings from him can dominate national attention, both on the pitch and across the internet.