India Skipper Kohli, Bollywood Actress Anushka announce birth of daughter

India’s cricket team Captain Virat Kohli and his wife Bollywood Actress Anushka Sharma, pose during a photo opportunity at their wedding reception in New Delhi, India December 21, 2017 – REUTERS

REUTERS: India Skipper Virat Kohli said this week his wife Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma had given birth to a baby girl, the couple’s first child.

Kohli broke the news hours after the Indian cricket team fought back to hold Australia to a draw in the third test in their series Down Under.

“We are thrilled to share with you that we have been blessed with a baby girl this afternoon,” Kohli wrote on Twitter https://twitter.com/imVkohli/status/1348580955594768385. 

“Anushka and the baby are both healthy and we are feeling beyond blessed to start this new chapter of our lives.”

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated the new parents on Twitter https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1348599930709975041: “Congratulations @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma on the arrival of the little angel in your lives! May her life be blessed with good health and love.” 

Former test spinners Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble were among the thousands who reacted to the news on social media.

“Congratulations to you both. God bless the baby girl,” Kumble tweeted https://twitter.com/anilkumble1074/status/1348633710980071427.

Kohli returned to India on paternity leave after playing in the opening test in Adelaide, which his team lost by eight wickets after crumbling to their lowest innings score in 88 years of test cricket.