‘I Just Focus On My Game': Virat Kohli's Nephew Aryaveer Aims To Leave His Own Mark
The surname Kohli needs no introduction if you are a cricket fan. A stalwart, modern-day great, a legend…there's no dearth of adjectives to describe the superstar that is Virat Kohli. His contribution to cricket goes beyond the jaw-dropping stats. He's a local hero to those hailing from Delhi, where he took the first steps towards international stardom. He recently stepped away from Test cricket and now will be available for just ODIs, having retired from T20Is last year.
However, this space is not to reminisce about the legend of Virat. It's to shine the light on a 16-year-old boy hailing from the same Kohli family.
The second edition of the Delhi Premier League (DPL) gets underway Saturday evening with the defending champions East Delhi Riders clashing with last year's runners-up South Delhi Superstarz. It could be just a game of T20 cricket, but for those who are aware, it's the match in which Virat's nephew could make his debut.
Aryaveer Kohli is a teenage legspinner who idolises Shane Warne among bowlers and is (obviously) a fan of his chachu's batting. He was picked by South Delhi Superstarz in the players' auction last month for Rs 1 lakh.
Son of Virat's elder brother Vikas, Aryaveer also trains at the West Delhi Cricket Academy under Rajkumar Sharma, like his famous uncle. Although he hasn't played for Delhi at the Under-16 or Under-19 level yet, his work ethic impressed the DPL team enough to pick him in their squad for the second season of the T20 tournament.
Before plying his trade with the seniors, Aryaveer spoke to CNN-News18 Cricketnext in an exclusive interview.
The teenager, who struggled to zero in on what motivates him, is quite clear that there's no baggage of the big surname that has put him in the spotlight.
'The atmosphere in the dressing room is very chill," Aryaveer said. 'The preparations are going well. Sarandeep sir has been helping me a lot from the first day itself to improve my bowling."
At the inaugural season last year, Priyansh Arya and Digvesh Rathi caught attention and eventually became IPL stars, which has raised the profile of DPL. Should Aryaveer get a game, there will be comparisons, scrutiny, expectations and more.
But the young lad is unfazed by the outer noise, with the focus squarely on his game.
'I don't think much about it. I mean, I have come to play, and that is what I think about. There is a lot of excitement. It is a big platform. It will be fun," he added.
On the other hand, South Delhi's head coach Sarandeep, has been fielding plenty of questions surrounding Aryaveer Kohli. The media is keen to know about the little Kohli, and the head coach said that the youngster will definitely give his best when his time comes.
'I'm working with Aryaveer, but I don't think about his surname. He's a nice boy, training really hard in the nets and trying to give his best all the time. In fact, he comes to training before time. So, I think that gene has been inherited," Sarandeep Singh told CNN-News18.
'But as of now, he is very young but focused on his game. Whenever his time comes, he will definitely perform well and do his best," he added.
A boy of few words, Aryaveer, may be new to this game of dealing with the media, but he definitely knows that he's going to be a team man.
'I will definitely try to give my best," he concluded with a smile.
Under the dynamic leadership of captain Ayush Badoni, the South Delhi Superstarz Men's squad is confident and well-balanced. In what promises to be a blockbuster opening clash, the South Delhi Superstarz Men's team will square off against the East Delhi Riders at 7:00 PM under the lights, setting the tone for an exciting season ahead.
About the Author
Aakash Biswas
A cricket enthusiast whose dreams of playing for India paved the way for a compelling journey in journalism. With a comprehensive coverage spanning international and domestic cricket across formats, I have had ...Read More
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First Published:
August 02, 2025, 18:10 IST
News cricket 'I Just Focus On My Game': Virat Kohli's Nephew Aryaveer Aims To Leave His Own Mark | Exclusive
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