Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is currently on a visit to London, met India star batter Virat Kohli in the British capital on Friday, September 11. The two discussed a range of topics, including sports, infrastructure and various welfare schemes initiated by the Maharashtra government.
Shinde also felicitated Kohli as a token of appreciation during the meeting.
The 62-year-old politician praised Kohli for being down to earth despite his remarkable career and record-breaking achievements. Shinde said the two had met previously but described their latest interaction as a particularly warm and direct conversation.
“Virat Kohli lives in London, and when he learned that I am here, he met me for a goodwill visit. I was delighted that such a big Indian cricketer, the one with the most centuries, is so down-to-earth. We had met before, but I was particularly happy with the direct conversation we had today,” Shinde told ANI.
The two also discussed Maharashtra’s development and infrastructure projects, with Shinde highlighting initiatives such as the ‘Third Mumbai’ development near the airport, Atal Setu, Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg, the coastal road and metro projects, along with work in the education and healthcare sectors.
“I told him about various welfare schemes in Maharashtra. I spoke about infrastructure, and he himself remarked that the development Maharashtra has seen in recent years is unprecedented. I also shared our future plans and the infrastructure projects currently underway, such as the ‘Third Mumbai’ development near the airport, the Atal Setu, the Balasaheb Thackeray Samruddhi Mahamarg, the coastal road, the metro, and initiatives regarding schools and healthcare,” Shinde said.
Shinde also spoke about Maharashtra’s position in areas such as GDP, startups, infrastructure and foreign direct investment (FDI), saying Kohli was pleased to hear about the state’s development.
“We discussed all these matters, and I highlighted the work we are doing on infrastructure in Maharashtra. The state currently ranks number one in GDP, startups, infrastructure, and FDI. He was delighted to hear about the transformation and development taking place in Maharashtra, recognising the positive impact these initiatives will have on people’s lives,” he said.
The meeting also touched upon ways to support young athletes and help the next generation excel in competitive sports.
“We discussed how to help the new generation excel in competitions and how to nurture their talent—after all, the youth are the future of our country. He shared some valuable ideas in this regard, which will undoubtedly benefit both Maharashtra and the nation,” Shinde added.
Virat Kohli eyes 15,000 ODI runs
Kohli has continued to be a key part of India’s ODI setup this year. He has scored 384 runs in six innings at an average of 64.00 and a strike rate of over 106, with one century and three fifties.
He was recently in action during India’s ODI series in England in August, scoring 144 runs in three innings, including two half-centuries. His best score in the series was 74.
Kohli is expected to return to ODI action during India’s home series against the West Indies from September 27. The three-match series will give him another opportunity to add to his international century tally, which currently stands at 85.
The 37-year-old is also closing in on another major milestone in ODI cricket. He has scored 14,941 runs in 314 ODIs and 302 innings at an average of 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties.
Kohli needs just 59 more runs to become only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to score 15,000 runs in ODI cricket.
