Indian cricket icon
Kane’s achievement is particularly notable as he becomes the first English player to receive the honour in 25 years. In the final voting, the striker outperformed a field of elite international talent, including Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi.
Kohli Celebrates Kane's Resilience and Career
Taking to social media to mark the occasion, Kohli shared a heartfelt tribute to his friend, highlighting the dedication that has defined Kane’s career. The cricketer praised the striker’s resilience and the integrity with which he has navigated the highest levels of professional football.
In his message, Kohli expressed his genuine happiness for the striker’s success, wishing him and his family well. He noted that Kane’s journey is a testament to his hard work and honesty, stating that the award was well-deserved after years of consistent performance at the top of the sport.
Focus Shifts to Upcoming ODI Series
While celebrating his friend's footballing milestone, Kohli is currently preparing for India's upcoming five-match ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to run from November 4 to 15, 2026. The series is set to commence in Auckland, with subsequent matches taking place in Wellington, Hamilton, and Mount Maunganui.
Kohli enters the series in strong form, having recently delivered a standout performance against the West Indies in September. During that series, he accumulated 168 runs across three matches at an impressive average of 84 and a strike rate of 155.55. His highlight was an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls in the opening ODI in Thiruvananthapuram, an innings that saw him surpass 15,000 career ODI runs. This milestone made him only the second batter in history, alongside Sachin Tendulkar, to reach the figure, while his 55th ODI century helped secure an eight-wicket victory for India alongside captain Shubman Gill.
