Rishabh Pant’s form in the second Test against England may not have matched his twin centuries from the first match, but he’s still making headlines—this time, off the pitch. While India’s Test vice-captain managed just 25 runs in Birmingham, fans were far more intrigued by something else: Pant’s Instagram activity. A few viral screenshots showed him liking posts by a virtual influencer named Mia Zelu, and social media went into a frenzy. Rishabh Pant’s controversy quickly spiraled from whispers to trending topics, drawing comparisons to another familiar name—Virat Kohli.
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Mia Zelu isn’t your everyday Instagram model. She’s a computer-generated virtual influencer, famous for bold, high-gloss photos and her futuristic aesthetic. With over 145,000 followers and growing, her posts regularly attract attention. But when fans noticed that Rishabh Pant had liked multiple posts from her account, the internet reacted quickly, and not always kindly.
Why? For one, Mia’s content leans into the glam-heavy, hyperreal style that some deem controversial. Secondly, the fact that she isn’t even a real person adds another layer of surrealism to the situation. Pant hasn’t confirmed if he follows her, and Mia’s follower list is private. But the screenshots of his likes went viral, sparking debate across fan forums and news outlets alike. Some users joked, “At least an AI girlfriend won’t cause scandals,” while others criticized Pant for being “careless” while on national duty. As Rishabh Pant’s controversy gained steam, people began to ask: haven’t we seen this before with Virat Kohli?
Déjà Vu：Fans Remember Kohli’s Avneet Kaur Episode
If this all sounds oddly familiar, that’s because it is. Just a few months ago, Kohli found himself in hot water for something almost identical. He had accidentally liked a reel by actress Avneet Kaur, and the reaction was swift and unforgiving.
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Kohli’s team issued a quick clarification, blaming the incident on an algorithm glitch. But the fire had already spread. Rumors of tension between Kohli and his wife, Anushka Sharma, soon followed. The media ran wild, and social platforms lit up with memes and moral policing. In hindsight, the situation was exaggerated. But the damage was done, and Kohli learned that even a digital slip can become a national headline. Which is exactly why Pant’s controversy involving Zelu is drawing such scrutiny. With the Kohli episode still fresh in public memory, fans are connecting the dots, even though no formal response has come from Pant’s camp. Silence, in this case, is feeding the fire.
Let Cricketers Breathe Online
Social media is part of modern life, even for athletes. From fans to fashion brands, everyone uses it for expression, relaxation, and connection. If Rishabh Pant liked a post by an AI influencer, it doesn’t mean there’s a scandal. It means he’s human, or at least behaving like one in a digital world that’s watching his every move.
As the line between virtual and real blurs, public figures will increasingly interact with AI-generated content, sometimes without even realizing it. It’s high time fans and media stop blowing up casual interactions into moral debates. Rishabh Pant’s controversy may be the buzz right now, just like Virat Kohli’s was months ago, but it shouldn’t be the headline tomorrow. Cricketers are under constant scrutiny on and off the field. Surely, they deserve a bit of room to scroll in peace. Whether it’s Mia Zelu today or some other virtual persona tomorrow, the message should be clear: Let’s focus on performance, not pixels.
