India, Jan. 30 -- One of the largest profiles on social media giant Instagram vanished overnight, as Virat Kohli's account with over 270 million followers on the platform went radio silent in the early hours of Friday, to the shock and consternation of many.

The Indian cricket legend has a quiet but steady presence on the app, where he posts pictures alongside his wife, Anushka Sharma, and also keeps up with brand partnership obligations. It was also the platform where he announced his retirement from Test cricket in 2025, which was one of the most interacted-with posts of the year as he stepped away from the most prestigious format of the game.

With over 274 million followers, Kohli's absence comes as a shock to his many fans, who reac...