Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha: Virat Kohli gave a miss despite alleged sightings in Ayodhya on the eve of consecration ceremony?

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Star India cricketer Virat Kohli was among the celebrities to receive an invitation to attend Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha in Ayodhya, commemorating the completion of the installation of Ram Lalla's idol at the newly-build Ram Janma Bhumi Temple in the sanctum santorum on January 22.

Unfortunately, the star cricketer was missing from the event, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signifying the return of Ram Lalla after 500 years to the newly constructed Ram Mandir.

This globally celebrated historic occasion resembled a Diwali-like spectacle as thousands arrived at the holy city of Ayodhya and millions of others were glued to their screens to witness the grand unveiling ceremony of Ram Lalla's idol. The temple will now be opening for the devotees for darshan, seeking blessings from Lord Ram Lalla.

Several sporting personalities were invited, including former India captains MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virender Sehwag. Iconic figures such as Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Anil Kumble, Venkatesh Prasad, Gautam Gambhir, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and the current head coach Dravid were also on the guest list. Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, sprint queen PT Usha, and footballer Bhaichung Bhutia were notable attendees as well.

Despite the grandeur, some personalities, including Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, could not participate. Active cricketer Ravindra Jadeja was the lone representative from the cricketing fraternity at the ceremony.

Notably, Kohli, who was granted a day off by the BCCI, also opted out of the first two tests against England, citing personal reasons. Speculations arose about Kohli's absence from the temple consecration, initially linking it to his commitment to the Test series.

However, a video on X (formerly Twitter) claimed his convoy arrived in Ayodhya on the eve of the event, contradicting the rumours. But Kohli or his PR team didn't confirm whether or not he was present in Ayodhya city for the august gathering.

Despite alleged sightings, Kohli was not seen in the stands, reserved for the 40000-plus guests, at the premises of the newly built temple during the ceremony. He did not share any updates on social media, leaving fans perplexed. Disappointed fans expressed their hopes on Twitter, anticipating a glimpse of the cricket superstar at the prestigious ceremony.