While Virat Kohli wowed fans with a well-paced century in the high-stakes India-Pakistan clash at the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai on Sunday, a cricket-loving Pakistani girl went viral for her graceful reaction to the one-sided contest. A clip of her interview after the game unexpectedly captured global attention, as her passionate and vibrant response resonated with viewers.

It wasn’t just her enthusiasm that caught people’s eye. Many cricket fans on social media pointed out that Faryal Waqar bore a striking resemblance to Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Kriti Sanon. But beyond the viral fame, Faryal is much more than just a familiar face. She is a dedicated cricket enthusiast and an academic professional.

A passionate supporter of the sport, Faryal has always admired Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and India’s cricketing icon, Virat Kohli.

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A Pakistani by heritage, born in Saudi Arabia, and raised in Dubai, Faryal never imagined herself in the limelight. Currently working in academia at RIT Dubai University, Faryal holds both Undergraduate and Graduate degrees from the same institution. She is deeply passionate about student success but, outside of her professional life, cricket has always been a major part of her world.

In an exclusive chat with India Today, Faryal opened up about the whirlwind of attention she has received over the past few days.

“It feels surreal. I have been creating TikTok videos over the last couple of years, but what has happened in the last couple of days has been extremely crazy, very overwhelming, but in a positive way.”

Her phone hasn’t stopped buzzing.

“I can’t lie. My phone has been blowing up over the last two nights. I had to put my notifications on silent. The amount of love pouring in from India has been incredible. I had no idea the video would go viral. I was emotional, coming out of a really bad game.”

As her video spread like wildfire, comparisons to Deepika Padukone, Kriti Sanon, and Preity Zinta flooded social media. Faryal, a Bollywood fan herself, was both flattered and stunned by the reactions.

“Honestly, every single actor you mentioned, we have been watching them on TV over the years. I love every single one of them, especially Deepika. I am a big fan of Deepika. The fact that I am being compared to someone as beautiful as her-it’s a privilege.”

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Faryal’s passion for cricket runs deep.

“We, as a family, have been watching cricket since I was seven or eight years old. I was probably eight, sitting in front of the TV with a poster that said ‘Boom Boom Lala, Boom Boom Afridi.’ I have been a huge Shahid Afridi fan. He was one of the most fantastic players. Every time he stepped onto the field, my heart would stop beating. He was so unpredictable.”

When asked about her current favourite cricketers, Faryal had no hesitation.

“If you ask about legends, I would have said Shahid Afridi. But speaking of the current team, my favourites are Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, and Saim Ayub. I have really high expectations from a player like Saim (Ayub). But if I had to pick just one, it would be Rizwan.”

“It has to be King Kohli. I am a big Virat fan. He is tremendous-his gameplay and technique are just phenomenal,” Faryal said, expressing her love for the superstar batter.

For now, Faryal is still soaking in the unexpected attention, enjoying the love from cricket fans worldwide.