{
  "id": 12596672,
  "title": "Who is Premanand Maharaj, and why does Virat Kohli keep visiting him?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/who-is-premanand-maharaj-and-why-does-virat-kohli-keep-visiting-him",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T09:36:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/who-is-premanand-maharaj-and-why-does-virat-kohli-keep-visiting-him-1.500701498"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Virat Kohli, the renowned Indian cricketer, has been frequently visiting Premanand Maharaj, a spiritual teacher based in Vrindavan, for years. Premanand Ji Maharaj is known for his devotion to Radha and Krishna, and for sharing wisdom on faith and daily life. This connection between Kohli and the spiritual leader is not a recent development but has persisted over the years.\n\nKohli and his wife Anushka Sharma first reported to visit Premanand Maharaj in January 2023, and have returned several times since. Their visits have certainly been more than just a photo opportunity. During one of their meetings, Anushka Sharma expressed her desire to seek answers to her questions through Premanand Maharaj’s spiritual teachings. For Kohli, the connection seems deeply personal and spiritual.\n\nKohli and Anushka often return to Vrindavan around significant milestones in their lives. They visited the spot a day after Kohli announced his Test retirement in May 2025 and were back in 2026, alongside another auspicious day, Guru Purnima. The reason behind Kohli’s repeated visits to Premanand Maharaj remains a matter of personal faith for both of them. Only they can truly explain what draws them back to the spiritual teacher.\n\nRecently, the association between Kohli and Premanand Maharaj has been entangled in controversy. Dinesh Sharma, also known as Falahari Maharaj, alleged that ₹50 million was spent to arrange Kohli and Anushka’s visit to Premanand Maharaj’s ashram. However, Kohli’s team swiftly dismissed the claim, stating it was \"completely false, baseless and factually incorrect\". They emphasized that the couple's visits were driven by deep personal faith and respect. No concrete evidence to support the ₹50 million claim has been made public yet.\n\nDespite this controversy, Kohli’s connection with Premanand Maharaj did not start with this allegation. The cricketer and his wife have been visiting the spiritual leader for years, indicating that the association is more than just a fleeting interest. The repeated visits to Vrindavan suggest that the spiritual bond has become an integral part of Kohli and Anushka’s lives. As Kohli continues to be seen in Vrindavan, it is clear that the spiritual connection between him and Anushka Sharma is not something out of the blue. It is a genuine part of their personal faith and spiritual journey.",
  "summary": "Virat Kohli’s repeated visits to Premanand Maharaj have attracted plenty of attention. But this is not a new connection. Premanand Ji Maharaj is a spiritual teacher based in Vrindavan, known for his devotion to Radha and Krishna, two central figures in Hindu devotional tradition, and for speaking about faith and everyday life. And Kohli is certainly not the only famous face who goes to see him.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}