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Indian cricket team superstar Virat Kohli returned to India from London on Saturday as the legendary Lionel Messi kick-started his GOAT India tour in Kolkata. Kohli landed at the Mumbai airport along with his Bollywood actor wife, Anushka Sharma. Kohli had headed to London after the conclusion of the ODI series between India and South Africa last week.
Kohli's return to India has led to speculation over a possible meet-up between the cricketing icon and Messi during the legendary footballer's ongoing GOAT India tour. Messi, who arrived in India on Saturday, December 13, will head to Mumbai on Sunday, where he will be taking part in an event at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Messi is expected to participate in a fashion show in Mumbai on the morning of December 14, which will feature prominent Bollywood celebrities, including John Abraham and Kareena Kapoor. The Argentine icon is also likely to take part in a padel match with Indian cricket stars, which will be hosted by the Cricket Club of India (CCI).
Legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar is expected to be part of the event in Mumbai, and it remains to be seen if Kohli will also meet Messi. Messi is also expected to feature in a friendly celebrity football match in Mumbai, before leaving for Delhi on the final day of his India tour.
Meanwhile, Messi's first day in India didn't go as expected as the Kolkata leg of his tour turned into chaos. Protests broke out at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata as the fans turned violent after failing to get a glimpse of the Argentine superstar, who had to leave the stadium early than planned, abandoning his lap of honour at the venue.
Thousands of fans who were waiting at the stadium since early morning, having paid hefty prices for the tickets, were unable to get a glimpse of the legendary footballer. Messi was surrounded by security officials and a large entourage, and was also surrounded by politicians and other officials, which further dampened his visibility.
Tension started building in the stands soon after Messi left the venue, triggering protests as fans questioned the poor management of the event. Many, who were waiting in anticipation to catch a glimpse of the footballer, were left disgruntled after he had to abandon his lap of honour.
Dejected fans threw bottles and other objects on the field to express their anger. Some breached the security to enter the field and started vandalising the venue. After the chaos, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee apologised to the fans on social media and assured them of a refund. The organiser of the event, Satadru Dutta, was also detained by the Kolkata police for questioning.
