It was a night to remember for Delhiites as cricketing star Virat Kohli teamed up with music sensation Karan Aujla at the grand One8 event in New Delhi. Virat and Karan's collaboration was a treat for fans, and with Virat launching his brand in his hometown, the cricketer turned emotional. He revisited the time when he joined the Indian cricket team and walked down memory lane, thanking people for being there.
Virat shared several motivational anecdotes for the younger generation, while Karan enthralled the audience with his performance. The two were also seen grooving together on stage.
Virat Kohli and Karan Aujla lit up the stage in Delhi as the Punjabi singer performed his hit track "Winning Speech". Kohli revealed his connection to the song, making it a memorable moment for fans of both cricket and music.
The moment became even more special when Kohli opened up about his admiration for Aujla and the personal connection he shares with Winning Speech.
Virat Kohli reveals heartbreaking reason why he listens to Karan Aujla song before matches
During an on-stage conversation with the singer, as quoted by The Indian Express, Kohli revealed that he had been a fan of Aujla long before they became friends.
"You write songs from the heart, and it shows. You also represent your story, which is quite special. The one track I resonate with the most is 'Winning Speech'," he said.
Virat Kohli also reflected on the pain of losing his father at a young age.
"It explains the journey he has been through, and I have felt a bit of similarity in it with my journey as well. I also lost my dad when I was pretty young. So, that song is quite special for me. I have heard it often before going to play matches."
The evening also saw Kohli speak about his ambitions for One8 Commune. Looking ahead, he said he hopes to build the brand into something that transcends his own identity and legacy.
During the event, Virat Kohli also revealed that he gets a special thrill from turning the tide in a game that everyone assumed his team had lost and leading it to victory.
The cricketer said, "I always crave situations where people have assumed it (the match) is gone, and then we somehow manage to pull it back. That's how I have always looked at situations from a very young age."
He added, "I never stop believing right till the very end that a game is lost or we can't win. Some magical things have also happened. I can never forget the match against Pakistan in Melbourne, where I was told later that the chances of winning were like 3 per cent. But I never thought like that, and even 1 per cent is enough. If there's a chance, there's a chance. You are never really done until you lose the game."
Virat Kohli's vision for One8 Commune
Opening up about his aspirations for One8 Commune, Virat Kohli said he wants to take it to a point where it outgrows him and no one even remembers who started the label in the first place.
"It would make me the proudest if nobody gave two hoots about who we are and who started this. The brand should outgrow all of us, and if we can do that in 20 years, I would love to be completely forgotten. It should take over, and people should not even remember who started it. That's where we want to get to," he added.
Virat Kohli has once again made his stance clear on returning to Test cricket, firmly shutting down speculation during a public appearance tied to his latest business venture.
According to media reports, Virat Kohli ruled out any possibility of a comeback while speaking at the global launch of his One8 footwear brand in New Delhi. The event introduced the "Seam XVIII Signature Test Red", a shoe priced at Rs 9,230, mirroring the exact number of runs Kohli scored in his Test career before retiring from the format in May 2025.
The design of the shoe, featuring a deep red colour and white stitching, draws inspiration from the traditional red Test cricket ball, serving as a tribute to his legacy in the longest format. The original price point was set at Rs 10,000, referencing the milestone Kohli narrowly missed, falling 770 runs short.
The pricing detail also prompted a light-hearted question from host Danish Sait, who asked if Kohli would consider returning to Test cricket to boost his run tally, and by extension, the product's symbolic value. Kohli's response was unequivocal.
"Nah nah, I would rather undersell. I am done with it," he said, dismissing any talk of a Test comeback.
Virat Kohli's remarks reinforce the decision he made in May 2025, when he stepped away from Test cricket after a stellar career spanning more than a decade. He finished with 9,230 runs, ranking among India's leading run-scorers in the format, and leaves behind a legacy as one of the country's most successful Test captains.
The former India captain has now scored more runs in the IPL than in Tests, highlighting his continued dominance in the shorter format even after stepping away from red-ball cricket.
Beyond cricket, the launch also signals a broader shift in Kohli's focus towards building a global sportswear brand. As co-founder of Agilitas Sports, he has taken an active role in product development, reportedly approving the final design after rejecting multiple iterations.
With pricing positioned in the premium segment, including cricket spikes at Rs 13,999 and lifestyle variants starting at Rs 6,999, One8 is being positioned as a high-performance global brand, competing with athlete-led labels worldwide.
