Virat Kohli invites Sri Lanka cricket super fan Gayan Senanayake to Mumbai reception

Indiatoday: Gayan Senanayake is Sri Lanka cricket’s biggest supporter and was one of the fortunate few to be invited to Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma’s wedding reception in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Virat Kohli always spares a moment for his fans on and off the field. The Indian cricket team captain even goes out of his way to help his fans whenever he can.

Kohli’s big-hearted gestures have won him admirers all over the world. And it was his big heart that prompted him to invite a Sri Lankan fan who had travelled to India with his national cricket team.

Several cricket and Bolllywood stars had gathered at St Regis in Mumbai’s upscale Lower Parel but there was this one man, from neighbouring Sri Lanka, who possibly had the time of his life.

Senanayake is one of Sri Lanka cricket’s biggest supporters and one of the lucky few to be invited to Kohli and Anushka’s reception.

Gayan did not look too overawed by the gathering of stars at the reception and held his own.

“Happy to be here, he is my good friend and invited me to his wedding reception,” Gayan told India Today’s Rasesh Mandani.

Gayan even revealed when and where he first met Kohli.

“I met him at the 2007 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia before he even came to Sri Lanka. And every time he came we stayed in touch.

“Virat is a good captain, good cricketer and has a good average,” he added.

Gayan mingled with the Indian cricket team players who were present at the reception. He even took selfies with Kohli and Anushka, Sachin Tendulkar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin among others. The gala event was attended by the who’s who of the cricketing fraternity - Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Virender Sehwag, Sunil Gavaskar were among a host of former cricketers who were seen at the reception. MS Dhoni also attended with his wife Sakshi and daughter Ziva. Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra, a close friend of Kohli’s, looked dapper in their outfits and seemed to have a good time.

The entire Indian team was also present at St. Regis Hotel, which was the venue for the star-studded wedding reception.