Star middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues recently shared an amusing incident involving herself, teammate Smriti Mandhana, and celebrity couple Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, during a tour of New Zealand.
Appearing on the latest episode of The Bombay Journey on Mashable India’s YouTube channel, Rodrigues recounted how a casual conversation at a cafe unexpectedly turned into a four-hour-long session, eventually resulting in the group being politely asked to leave by the cafe staff.
According to Rodrigues as per Hindustan Times, the impromptu meet-up took place at a cafe located inside the hotel where both the Indian men’s and women’s teams were staying during their tour. It all began when Rodrigues and Mandhana sought permission to speak to Kohli, which led to an engaging exchange not just about cricket but also about life off the field.
“Anushka was also there. First half an hour we talked about cricket,” Rodrigues recalled. “He actually told Smriti and me that `you both have the power to change women`s cricket, and I can see that happening. Then we spoke about life. It felt like a few long-lost friends who met and spoke. The only reason we stopped was because the café staff kicked us out.”
Kohli and Sharma are currently believed to be based in London, following the birth of their second child, Akaay, in February 2024. Their first child, daughter Vamika, was born in January 2021. The couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Italy back in December 2017.
Meanwhile, Kohli’s next assignment will see him return to action during India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia, which features three ODIs and five T20Is. All eyes will be on the marquee venues of Perth (October 19), Adelaide (October 23), and Sydney (October 25), where Kohli is set to return to his most cherished ODI format.
This tour could be pivotal for the veteran batter, as he looks to reassert his dominance and stake a strong claim for inclusion in the 2027 World Cup squad. Australia has been a happy hunting ground for the former Indian captain in ODIs. In 29 matches Down Under, Kohli has amassed 1327 runs at an average of 51.04, including five centuries.
