Royal Challengers Bengaluru's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli has raised concerns regarding the conduct of IPL franchise social media teams, specifically pointing out the discomfort caused by capturing players during private on-field conversations and candid training moments. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter has called for clearer "streamlining" and stricter regulation of what footage is recorded, aiming to curb the trend of turning personal player interactions into viral internet content.
Virat Kohli not comfortable with persistent camera presence amidst IPL 2026
While Kohli acknowledged that digital content creation has evolved into a massive, essential part of the modern league ecosystem, he emphasized the urgent need for better boundaries. He advocated for safeguarding players' personal interactions and practice sessions, arguing that more defined limits are necessary to prevent overexposure and properly preserve a player's right to privacy.
“You walk to practice and you have six cameras following you. It’s not a comfortable feeling at all. As a sportsperson, you need to have the ability and the freedom to work on your game in peace. If everything you do is an opportunity to film or display or to dissect, then you are not being organic. I’m not going to be able to try to do things at practice which I really want to do because I know tomorrow if someone films it and there are discussions on my practice sessions… You judge me on my performances during the game, not during the leadup. No one has the right to judge me on what I’m doing in terms of my preparation, the things I’m trying in the nets,” Kohli said on the RCB podcast.
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'I love the pressure of the game but don’t love the pressure of anything else'
Kohli also emphasized that the concept of "streamlining" content must be applied in a balanced and thoughtful manner. Rather than implementing blanket policies, he suggested that franchises should actively check with the players beforehand to ensure they are comfortable with that specific level of public exposure.
“I just feel like there has to be a bit more streamlining in terms of understanding how much to do, when to do, and whether the player is okay with being filmed at all times. Those kinds of things really need to be taken into account because it gets too much. I love the pressure of the game but I honestly don’t love the pressure of anything else. Like social media is a huge part of the commercial representation or the fan engagement for any team, which is understandable. But I genuinely feel like there has to be a bit more streamlining, because if you look at the growth of the official fan clubs or the official fan pages of teams it has taken place after a long period of time when the IPL was already in play. So it’s not a thing that people were ready for from day one,” he added.
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To illustrate his point, Kohli shared an example from a recent IPL 2026 match against LSG. He recalled a casual interaction with Kane Williamson on the sidelines, pointing out how cameras persistently hovered around them, turning what should have been a normal, private chat into a filmed event. In addition to the franchise media teams, Kohli highlighted the intrusive role of the "Champak" robot deployed by the IPL organizers. He noted that the constant presence of these automated cameras further encroaches on players' personal space, underscoring the need for a more mindful approach to capturing behind-the-scenes moments.
“I was talking to Kane the other day and there’s that robot thing just waving at me. And I am like ‘Why is this thing waving at me?’ I’m talking to Kane about something so serious. First I ignored the dog and then I told the man controlling it, please take him away. Let me talk in peace. Kane’s my friend. I can’t have a conversation with him without it becoming a ‘moment’,” the former India captain concluded.