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Cricketer Virat Kohli spotted wearing Hublot

Virat Kohli, India's former Test captain and one of cricket's all-time run-scorers, was spotted wearing the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion 2016 ICC World Twenty20 King Gold, reference 525.OX.0129.VR.ICC16 — a watch that connects directly to a tournament in which Kohli delivered one of the most extraordinary batting performances in T20 history, almost single-handedly guiding India through the group stage.

The ref. 525.OX.0129.VR.ICC16 is built around Hublot's 45mm King Gold case, a proprietary 18-carat rose gold alloy developed in-house that incorporates platinum-group metals to meaningfully reduce surface micro-scratching — a persistent issue with standard gold alloys. The open-worked dial carries the ICC World Twenty20 branding and is executed in a blue and gold colourway echoing the Indian team's jersey palette. Powering the watch is the HUB1155 calibre, a self-winding flyback chronograph movement with a 72-hour power reserve, visible in full through the skeletonised architecture. Water resistance is rated to 50 metres.

From a collector's standpoint, the edition carries genuine scarcity credentials: production was capped at 100 numbered pieces globally. Sports-themed limited editions from major Swiss maisons can often feel like marketing exercises, but the combination of King Gold, a technically credible skeleton flyback movement, and a hard ceiling of 100 units places this reference in more serious territory. Its direct association with a specific World Cup cycle, rather than a generic cricket theme, gives it strong provenance anchoring for future collectors.

Kohli has been a Hublot brand ambassador since 2013, and his relationship with the manufacture predates his peak statistical years in international cricket. Seeing him wear a piece tied so specifically to the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 — the tournament staged on home soil where he was arguably the player of the event — is less celebrity product placement and more a genuinely personal statement.

With a UK list price of approximately £24,500 at launch, the retail entry point was already premium. On the secondary market, cricket-specific Hublot limited editions with sub-100-piece runs command meaningful premiums when they surface, particularly in South Asian collector communities where Kohli's cultural footprint remains unmatched. Expect verified examples in unworn condition to trade well above original retail.