For International Women’s Day 2026, Virat Kohli teamed up with men’s fashion brand Wrogn to launch a campaign against domestic violence. Released on March 6, the campaign focuses on the “silent spectator” phenomenon (people who witness crimes against women but do nothing).
Kohli shared a video on Instagram holding paper labels that read, “If you witness a crime and are silent, aren’t you equally guilty?”
Virat Kohli Shares Message Against Domestic Violence On International Women’s Day 2026
In the clip, Virat Kohli shared a message – “The one who witnesses a crime but remains silent is equally guilty as the one who commits it. Yes, it is about domestic violence. Yes, it is still prevalent today. And yes, it’s a crime. Often the victims can’t stand against it. But we surely can. Let’s not ignore crimes against women. Let’s not be silent spectators.”
He ended the video by urging people to speak up and wished everyone a Happy Women’s Day.
Check out the video below
Fans Criticise Brand Promotion In Name Of Awareness
Despite the serious message, many social media users criticised the video as a brand promotion rather than genuine awareness. Fans also questioned Kohli’s silence on other major issues.
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A user wrote, “So when are you talking about US-Israel killings of 165+ innocent school girls in Iran?”
Another commented, “Sir, how many times have you spoken up for the right things? How many times did you raise your voice about Manipur when a woman was paraded there?”
A third user said, “Shame on you for promoting a brand using International Women’s Day, turning a day meant to respect women into a marketing opportunity.”
One more shared, “True. I also wish you weren’t silent when the stampede happened after RCB won the IPL or during #OperationSindoor. That applies to many others too.”
Even with the criticism, this campaign continues Kohli’s history of supporting women’s rights. He previously backed initiatives like Love is Respect and the #LockdownOnDomesticViolence campaign during the 2020 pandemic. It also fits with the 2026 global Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain”, which emphasises that protecting women benefits the whole community.
Times When Viral Kohli Was Criticised For Not Speaking Up
Kohli has often faced criticism for staying neutral on political or social matters. During the 2021 Farmers’ Protest, his tweet calling for an amicable solution was called vague compared to other celebrities who spoke out. He also faced backlash for not commenting on the 2023 Manipur violence, with critics contrasting his silence on domestic issues with the Indian cricket team’s global gestures, like taking a knee for Black Lives Matter in 2021.
At the same time, Kohli has been vocal on issues close to him. He condemned bystanders’ COWARDLY behaviour during the 2017 Bengaluru New Year’s Eve molestation and defended his wife Anushka Sharma and teammates like Mohammed Shami from online trolling. He has explained that he avoids commenting on matters where he lacks total knowledge, preferring to protect his mental peace and focus on cricket.
