Imran Khan vs Virat Kohli? Who would have been the biggest global super star if they played in the same era today in their prime?

[jnaveen1980]

Since this discussion is about global popularity and includes mentions of footballers, I am sharing some popular football players who follow Virat Kohli.


Paul Pogba, the French footballer and World Cup winner who has played for top clubs like Manchester United and Juventus, extended heartfelt birthday wishes to Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli.

“Virat, happy birthday my boy. He’s a legend, he is literally the best cricket player in the entire world.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...-stream-video-goes-viral-101730861986312.html

Former Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wished Kohli on his birthday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1191544396220514304

Germany and Bayern Munich footballer Thomas Muller dons Virat Kohli's jersey, wishes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1135524238943764480

The former Brazilian captain Chelsea's star defender David Luiz special wishes to Kohli

https://twitter.com/x/status/1132610262748540930

England Captain Hary Kane:

David Beckham

Whether anyone likes it or not he is the true global icon beyond cricket. His brand value is around 250 million usd.

 

[chinaman00]

Is there any proof of this? Or at least some authentic surveys or articles?
Vis was more popular than any other cricketer during those days. I don’t think Imran was popular outside of Pakistan.

Too many to list. You can tell how influential he was during his fundraising activities for the cancer hospital. Who’s who of Hollywood and Bollywood filled every event.

“
He palled around with Sting, Mick Jagger and Goldie Hawn. Princess Di paid Khan a visit in Pakistan in 1997 – and even enlisted him in an effort to try to talk on-again, off-again boyfriend Hasnat Ahmad Khan (no relation to the pol) into marrying her before her sudden death in a Paris car crash.

By then, Khan himself was married to British heiress Jemima Goldsmith, a London filmmaker, socialite and gossip-column regular. They had two children together, but divorced in 2004 after nine years of marriage.”

Meet Pakistan’s playboy-turned-prime minister

Cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan, the former playboy who counted Princess Diana as a close friend, is poised to become Pakistan’s next prime minister. “We’re going to run the country like …

nypost.com

 

[Bewal Express]

How? On what basis are you saying this?

Outside Ind Kohli is no Superstar. IK was and is recognised World Wide. This was the case even during his cricket career.

 

[Bewal Express]

Opposite of what you say. Your own cricketers are running after him like fanboys lol your past cricketers also worship kohli.

You can believe what you want. But no one outside Ind and a few cricket fans in the commonwealth countries have any idea who is.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Too many to list. You can tell how influential he was during his fundraising activities for the cancer hospital. Who’s who of Hollywood and Bollywood filled every event.

“
He palled around with Sting, Mick Jagger and Goldie Hawn. Princess Di paid Khan a visit in Pakistan in 1997 – and even enlisted him in an effort to try to talk on-again, off-again boyfriend Hasnat Ahmad Khan (no relation to the pol) into marrying her before her sudden death in a Paris car crash.

By then, Khan himself was married to British heiress Jemima Goldsmith, a London filmmaker, socialite and gossip-column regular. They had two children together, but divorced in 2004 after nine years of marriage.”

Meet Pakistan’s playboy-turned-prime minister

Cricket-star-turned-politician Imran Khan, the former playboy who counted Princess Diana as a close friend, is poised to become Pakistan’s next prime minister. “We’re going to run the country like …

nypost.com

None of them are sports related. Socializing with celebrities won't make him global star. Heck shubman Gill actually played cricket with Ed Sheeran. Won't make him a global superstar. Purely as a sports person he was a superstar only in Pakistan.

 

[Bewal Express]

You might want to rethink that. Kohli is as popular as any cricketer could be. Cricket is being included in the Los Angeles Olympics primarily using Kohli and his global fan following (that is more than Lebron James btw) as a marketing tool.
I understand your urge to promote Imran’s image - and it’s well earned, he was a superstar too - but don’t incorrectly bring someone else down to advance your point.

No one outside Ind and the cricket fans has any idea who he is. IK was and is the biggest ever name in cricket. His marriage in the eealy 90s was front page news around the World.

 

[Bewal Express]

None of them are sports related. Socializing with celebrities won't make him global star. Heck shubman Gill actually played cricket with Ed Sheeran. Won't make him a global superstar. Purely as a sports person he was a superstar only in Pakistan.

You are desperate but Kohli isn't anything but an Ind icon. No one outside has any idea. If you showed random people outside Ind and cricket playing countries that have cricket fans, they probably confuse him with some guy from slum dog millionaire. It's only in your heads that he is a global brand. Kaptaan doesn't need branding. He is a brand

 

[pillionrider]

Is there any proof of this? Or at least some authentic surveys or articles?

Source is trustmebro

 

[charlie007]

No one outside Ind and the cricket fans has any idea who he is. IK was and is the biggest ever name in cricket. His marriage in the eealy 90s was front page news around the World.

If you choose to live in your bubble that’s your prerogative. Outside of cricket, and especially to people not affiliated with Pakistanis,

 

[Bewal Express]

If you choose to live in your bubble that’s your prerogative. Outside of cricket, and especially to people not affiliated with Pakistanis, he’s a politician in jail for corruption.

It's not a bubble. I have mixed with more people than you will have known in your entire life. Kohli or any other Ind isn't known at all Ind and the few people that follow cricket in the white common wealth countries. IK was and is the best known cricketer that cricket has ever produced

 

[charlie007]

It's not a bubble. I have mixed with more people than you will have known in your entire life. Kohli or any other Ind isn't known at all Ind and the few people that follow cricket in the white common wealth countries. IK was and is the best known cricketer that cricket has ever produced

Stop assuming things and get out of that rock you live under.
The cricketer Imran and the politician Imran are two different personalities and you’re trying to mix them. And you are arguing on your opinion and heart rather than cold facts.
You are fully entitled to your opinion but don’t assume others will agree with you.
It’s very difficult to argue with people who debate on opinion instead of facts.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

As a Cricketer Imran, and as a poster boy may be VK because he is a much better actor.

 

[Bewal Express]

Stop assuming things and get out of that rock you live under.
The cricketer Imran and the politician Imran are two different personalities and you’re trying to mix them. And you are arguing on your opinion and heart rather than cold facts.
You are fully entitled to your opinion but don’t assume others will agree with you.
It’s very difficult to argue with people who debate on opinion instead of facts.

IK Just the cricketer was a much bigger brand than Kohli will ever be. Kohli is an Ind brand and not even thr biggest one- Tendulkar was bigger

 

[jnaveen1980]

You can believe what you want. But no one outside Ind and a few cricket fans in the commonwealth countries have any idea who is.

Like Imran is known for everyone lol Only now they know who Imran is because of politics not when he was a cricketer.

 

[jnaveen1980]

IK Just the cricketer was a much bigger brand than Kohli will ever be. Kohli is an Ind brand and not even thr biggest one- Tendulkar was bigger

I know you are a die hard IK fan. But you have to admit VK is more popular in Pakistan than IK ever was in India. Nothing against Pak players as i said. Akram's popularity is significantly more htan IK's popularity in India.

 

[charlie007]

I feel like a fool to have commented on this hypothetical bait thread . This was just an attempt to create traffic and I fell for it. My bad!

 

[jnaveen1980]

You are desperate but Kohli isn't anything but an Ind icon. No one outside has any idea. If you showed random people outside Ind and cricket playing countries that have cricket fans, they probably confuse him with some guy from slum dog millionaire. It's only in your heads that he is a global brand. Kaptaan doesn't need branding. He is a brand

I am not even a great Kohli fan lol But it is a fact Kohli is a global superstar. The way you guys celebrated his 100 against your own team is something you will never see in India. All your cricketers worship him more than a lot of Indian fan.

 

[Bewal Express]

I know you are a die hard IK fan. But you have to admit VK is more popular in Pakistan than IK ever was in India. Nothing against Pak players as i said. Akram's popularity is significantly more htan IK's popularity in India.

No chance. IK was a bigger in Ind in the 80s than any Ind cricketer. Ask anyone Ind from that era. Literally every Ind actress was linked to him. Kohli is a brand in Ind, Kaptaan is a world wide brand. That won't change Because no Ind will ever be a World wide brand. Sorry to burst your little bubble

 

[amax]

You cant compare today's era celebs with past, this is information age, nowadays even people who would get called "mirasi", are super popular.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No chance. IK was a bigger in Ind in the 80s than any Ind cricketer. Ask anyone Ind from that era. Literally every Ind actress was linked to him. Kohli is a brand in Ind, Kaptaan is a world wide brand. That won't change Because no Ind will ever be a World wide brand. Sorry to burst your little bubble

Nice imagination dude. He was a play boy. Heck even Asad Rauf was a play boy. That won't make him a global superstar. I have no problem admitting if a pakistani is popular. Imran khan was despised by a lot of people for his arrogant remarks. Especially Sachin fans hated him big time.

 

[amax]

No chance. IK was a bigger in Ind in the 80s than any Ind cricketer. Ask anyone Ind from that era. Literally every Ind actress was linked to him. Kohli is a brand in Ind, Kaptaan is a world wide brand. That won't change Because no Ind will ever be a World wide brand. Sorry to burst your little bubble

I doubt any cricketer can be a world worldwide brand, cricket is simply not that big of a sport, and only with the rise of South Asian economies cricketers can be compared to global stars.

 

[Bewal Express]

I doubt any cricketer can be a world worldwide brand, cricket is simply not that big of a sport, and only with the rise of South Asian economies cricketers can be compared to global stars.

He was (as much as they can be) in the 80s and 90s. Kohli is an Ind brand and that's it.

 

[amax]

He was( as much as they can be) in the 80s and 90s. Kohli is an Ind brand and that's it.

You said it right "as much as they can be", Kohli is more or less same category "as much as a cricketer can be".

 

[Aami]

IK is a bigger star now even when he is not playing ...

 

[Bewal Express]

Nice imagination dude. He was a play boy. Heck even Asad Rauf was a play boy. That won't make him a global superstar. I have no problem admitting if a pakistani is popular. Imran khan was despised by a lot of people for his arrogant remarks. Especially Sachin fans hated him big time.

Who cares if Sachin fans hated him. He was the biggest cricket brand in Ind in the 80s and 90s. Just plain fact, bigger the Kepil or any other cricketer. Kohli is a brand in Ind and that's it. I am not sure how this is being debated. You guys need to get out more.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Who cares if Sachin fans hated him. He was the biggest cricket brand in Ind in the 80s and 90s. Just plain fact, bigger the Kepil or any other cricketer. Kohli is a brand in Ind and that's it. I am not sure how this is being debated. You guys need to get out more.

lol You keep saying the same hoping it will become true. See you can't even convince us here. I have no problem admitting AKram is a superstar in India.

 

[Bewal Express]

lol You keep saying the same hoping it will become true. See you can't even convince us here. I have no problem admitting AKram is a superstar in India.

I don't hope anything. It makes no difference either way. I was just putting your delusions to rest.

 

[Katwalindian]

Virat kohli bashes this mediocre Pakistan side which is currently below afghanistan and bangladesh and suddenly comparison starts

 

[jnaveen1980]

I don't hope anything. It makes no difference either way. I was just putting your delusions to rest.

Whatever helps you sleep. I am no Kohli fanboy like you are Imran's fanboy. So i couldn't care less.

 

[Bewal Express]

Whatever helps you sleep. I am no Kohli fanboy like you are Imran's fanboy. So i couldn't care less.

I am a fan of IK as cricketer and as a politician. But as we know, I am not the only one. He is the biggest cricket brand ever produced. Kohli isn't even Tendulkars level

 

[Saurav]

Virat's popularity isnt organic. Right comparison would be Sachin and Imran

 

[chinaman00]

Majority on this thread are either jingoistic Indians who are high on saffron or people born in the early 2000s. No need to have any discussion on this issue with them. There’s not a single cricketer who has Imran Khan’s global appeal and popularity. Not Tendulkar, not Ian Botham, not Martin Crowe.

Thread should be closed for its preposterous premise.

 

[Aami]

I am a fan of IK as cricketer and as a politician. But as we know, I am not the only one. He is the biggest cricket brand ever produced. Kohli isn't even Tendulkars level

At last, some reality check. ...esp the bit about Tendulkar

 

[Bewal Express]

At last, some reality check. ...esp the bit about Tendulkar

Tendulkar was and is India's biggest cricket brand. From my experience Indians were more pained with his failure than they were with India losing.

 

[saimayubera]

Imran Khan is a no name outside Pakistan.

Pakistan as a country is finished so they like to cope by imagining some imagined past.

Imran Khan has been in jail for a few years now and no one from the cricketing community or his "celebrity" friends have said a word.

According to delusional Pakistanis, shouldn't he be getting the Nelson Mandela treatment from the globe?

On the other hand, the cricketing fraternity is happily playing a tournament there under the regime that put him behind bars.

 

[uppercut]

Would Kohli have been as popular if not more than Imran Khan in England, Australia, America if he and Imran Khan both were playing in the same era?

Would Imran Khan have ended up being as commercially successful as Kohli is today?

Would Kohli have barged into IK on the field or fist pumped in his face, screamed like a monkey after he got out?

Imran benefited from a pre-social media Era when the narrative was controlled by the elite few. If he were to be playing today alongside Kohli he would be just another great Cricketer like soo many others. Some good examples are ABD or Chris Gayle or Warner or Smith or Root or Williamson or ..... all great players but no match to Kohli's stature or accomplishments. His only competition in regards to popularity is with other Mega Indian legends like MSD, Tendulkar.​

And then there is the small matter of being Social media savvy. Imran is a complete failure on that count as can be seen by his disasterous tenure as PM.

 

[uppercut]

Imran Khan has been in jail for a few years now and no one from the cricketing community or his "celebrity" friends have said a word.

According to delusional Pakistanis, shouldn't he be getting the Nelson Mandela treatment from the globe?

On the other hand, the cricketing fraternity is happily playing a tournament there under the regime that put him behind bars.

These are very good points that shed light on the reality.

 

[kron]

How? On what basis are you saying this?

Based on delusion

I am a huge kohli hater and even I believe kohli would be more popular than immy cause we have many moron fans in India that worship the choker.

Immy is 10 times the player kohli ever was in real cricket that is test cricket

 

[kron]

Since this discussion is about global popularity and includes mentions of footballers, I am sharing some popular football players who follow Virat Kohli.


Paul Pogba, the French footballer and World Cup winner who has played for top clubs like Manchester United and Juventus, extended heartfelt birthday wishes to Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli.

“Virat, happy birthday my boy. He’s a legend, he is literally the best cricket player in the entire world.”

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...-stream-video-goes-viral-101730861986312.html

Former Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs (Manchester United), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva (Manchester City) wished Kohli on his birthday.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1191544396220514304

Germany and Bayern Munich footballer Thomas Muller dons Virat Kohli's jersey, wishes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1135524238943764480

The former Brazilian captain Chelsea's star defender David Luiz special wishes to Kohli

https://twitter.com/x/status/1132610262748540930

England Captain Hary Kane:

David Beckham

lol is this for real? Damn thought it was bots.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

It's like comparing Amitabh Bachchan with Shahid Kapoor.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Imran Khan is a no name outside Pakistan.

Pakistan as a country is finished so they like to cope by imagining some imagined past.

Imran Khan has been in jail for a few years now and no one from the cricketing community or his "celebrity" friends have said a word.

According to delusional Pakistanis, shouldn't he be getting the Nelson Mandela treatment from the globe?

On the other hand, the cricketing fraternity is happily playing a tournament there under the regime that put him behind bars.

The problem with kids these days is that they act as if life, cricket, and people didn’t exist before they arrived on this planet. This post is a perfect example of that.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Keep you posts relevant to topic and no more political talks here

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Imran benefited from a pre-social media Era when the narrative was controlled by the elite few. If he were to be playing today alongside Kohli he would be just another great Cricketer like soo many others. Some good examples are ABD or Chris Gayle or Warner or Smith or Root or Williamson or ..... all great players but no match to Kohli's stature or accomplishments. His only competition in regards to popularity is with other Mega Indian legends like MSD, Tendulkar.​

And then there is the small matter of being Social media savvy. Imran is a complete failure on that count as can be seen by his disasterous tenure as PM.

What about Kohli in Imran Khan's era? Kohli is already struggling in Tests in this era, imagine his stats and achievements back then. This is exactly how people who leave their brains at home think. He considers Imran playing in today's era but refuses to think about Kohli in Imran’s time because deep down, he knows the truth would hit him hard.

 

[uppercut]

It's like comparing Amitabh Bachchan with Shahid Kapoor.

Exactly .... and Kohli is the only one that's got a stature comparable to AB. This is why you are called the inverse/ulta man


Thanks for the confirmation though

 

[saimayubera]

What about Kohli in Imran Khan's era? Kohli is already struggling in Tests in this era, imagine his stats and achievements back then. This is exactly how people who leave their brains at home think. He considers Imran playing in today's era but refuses to think about Kohli in Imran’s time because deep down, he knows the truth would hit him hard.

Imran had mediocre away records.

Imagine his overall records in the time of neutral umpiring, non ball tampering and in a more professional/competitive era.

This is the truth.

Why else has Pakistan pace bowling regressed so badly when Pakistan by all socioeconomic metrics is better than they were in the 80s.

 

[uppercut]

The problem with old people is that they act as if life, cricket, and people peaked when they were in their youth when all evidence points otherwise. This post is a perfect example of that.

This is merely coping mechanism for aging.

Soo true!! Very astute observation

 

[Savak]

Imran Khan is a no name outside Pakistan.

Pakistan as a country is finished so they like to cope by imagining some imagined past.

Imran Khan has been in jail for a few years now and no one from the cricketing community or his "celebrity" friends have said a word.

According to delusional Pakistanis, shouldn't he be getting the Nelson Mandela treatment from the globe?

On the other hand, the cricketing fraternity is happily playing a tournament there under the regime that put him behind bars.

Did you miss out on Richard Branson tweeting about IK?

 

[saimayubera]

Did you miss out on Richard Branson tweeting about IK?

Yes.

 

[Cover Drive Six]

Based on delusion

I am a huge kohli hater and even I believe kohli would be more popular than immy cause we have many moron fans in India that worship the choker.

Immy is 10 times the player kohli ever was in real cricket that is test cricket

Also, there are many morons who put down certain players based on their personal likes and dislikes.

 

[globetrotter]

I watched 79’s Pakistan tour of India on TV …. At that time IK and Waseem Raza (Rameez big brother) were more popular in India. At that time, Botham, Kapil, IK and Hadley, 4 all rounder were dominating cricket world. Amongst them Botham was more popular. IK was having good athletic body, but he was more popular as playboy in Eng and Australia (Sita white episode). Richards, Gavaskar, Liliee, Thompson were also popular

 

[LordJames]

IK was and is a global superstar beyond Cricket.

VK is a superstar due to Cricket

 

[Cover Drive Six]

I didn’t watch cricket in the 80s, which is why I was asking if there are any articles or proof about Imran Khan being a global brand, Hollywood badsha etc., as some posters claim. There are articles where Bradman met Sachin and Warne, and he mentioned Sachin as the next greatest. I know Viv Richards was widely recognized as a global star in the cricket world.

In terms of global popularity (strictly within cricket, not Hollywood or Bollywood), I think the order is:
Bradman – Viv – Sachin – Warne – Lara. Imran Khan and Kapil Dev are at the same level of popularity in their home countries as cult heroes for bringing the World Cup to their nations. However, Imran Khan is much more popular than Kapil due to his political career.

 

[globetrotter]

I didn’t watch cricket in the 80s, which is why I was asking if there are any articles or proof about Imran Khan being a global brand, Hollywood badsha etc., as some posters claim.

No, IK wasn’t a global icon, IK was handsome, having athletic body. He was popular in UK, AUS party circle and having playboy image.

 

[jnaveen1980]

No, IK wasn’t a global icon, IK was handsome, having athletic body. He was popular in UK, AUS party circle and having playboy image.

SOme of them do not understand the meaning of global superstar. Imran Khan was a massive superstar within pakistan. Outside pakistan he was well known as he was the captain. Otherwise he was not a superstar. Heck he didn't even have a nickname like King Richards, LIttle Master Gavaskar, Master blaster Sachin, Prince Lara.

 

[kron]

SOme of them do not understand the meaning of global superstar. Imran Khan was a massive superstar within pakistan. Outside pakistan he was well known as he was the captain. Otherwise he was not a superstar. Heck he didn't even have a nickname like King Richards, LIttle Master Gavaskar, Master blaster Sachin, Prince Lara.

When people think of Imran khan, they think of the singer. No the cricketer