Viral or Fake? The Truth Behind Virat Kohli Ride on MS Dhoni Iconic RX 100

New Delhi, November 29, 2025: A wave of nostalgia and excitement recently swept across social media after images surfaced that seemed to capture a perfect moment between cricket legends Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni. The most eye-catching of these photos showed Kohli casually sitting on Dhoni’s famous, vintage Yamaha RX 100 bike, a prized possession in the former captain’s extensive garage.

Fans, always eager for a reunion between the two iconic figures often referred to as ‘Viru’ and ‘Mahi,’ quickly made the pictures go viral, sharing them across platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The images were thought to be from a recent meeting in Ranchi, ahead of the Indian team’s ODI series in the city.

The Reality Behind the ‘Iconic Pose’

While the idea of Kohli chilling with the legendary bike captured the imagination of millions, a closer inspection and subsequent fact-checking have revealed the truth: the viral photos are fake.

The highly-circulated images, which included not just the bike pose but also what looked like a casual selfie of the duo and a chat outside Dhoni’s home, were created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) generative tools. These tools expertly superimposed images of Kohli and Dhoni into staged settings, meticulously recreating the environment of Dhoni’s Ranchi residence and his famed motorbike collection.

The illusion was so convincing that many major news outlets initially reported on the images as real, only to later issue clarifications.

Why the Confusion Spread So Fast

The main reason these specific images gained such traction lies in the very real and well-documented recent reunion between the players.

• A Genuine Meeting: Virat Kohli was genuinely in Ranchi with the Indian cricket team for the ODI series. It is a well-known tradition that when the team visits Ranchi, Dhoni hosts them for dinner. This meeting did happen, and real videos surfaced showing Dhoni personally driving Kohli back to the team hotel in his car, highlighting their candid camaraderie.
• The Power of AI: Modern AI tools have become frighteningly good at creating hyper-realistic images. The viral photo was shared by an Instagram account known for posting celebrity pictures by cleverly morphing a third person into the frame using AI or Photoshop methods. The pictures looked believable, right down to the lighting and background details of Dhoni’s farmhouse.
• Fan Wish Fulfillment: The sight of the two legends together, especially with Dhoni’s beloved RX 100 (a symbol of his humble beginnings and passion for bikes), taps into a deep sense of nostalgia for Indian cricket fans. People wanted the photos to be real, which accelerated their spread without critical fact-checking.

The Verdict

The captivating image of Virat Kohli on MS Dhoni’s RX 100 is a perfect example of how quickly AI-generated content can blur the line between reality and fiction on the internet. While a genuine and heartwarming reunion between the two did take place in Ranchi, the specific photograph featuring the bike pose is definitively fake—a digital creation that perfectly captured a moment fans wished had happened.

It serves as a strong reminder for social media users to be cautious and verify sources, especially as AI technology continues to advance and make fabricated content look increasingly authentic.