Actress Anushka Sharma and her cricketer-husband Virat Kohli
are now parents of a baby girl. Kohli announced the arrival of the baby on
social media this evening, also requesting fans and followers to allow the
celebrity couple privacy.

The Virushka parenting plan seems clear. Anushka too had, in
a recent interview, shared that she wants to raise her child away from social
media, unlike many star kids whose photos are regularly featured, posted either
by their doting parents or he paparazzi. When asked about the harsh glare of
the spotlight on the children of celebrities, the actress had told Vogue
magazine, “We’ve thought about it a lot. We definitely do not want to raise a
child in the public eye—we don’t plan on engaging our child in social media.”

“I think it’s a decision your child should be able to take.
No kid should be made to be more special than the other. It’s hard enough for
adults to deal with it. It’s going to be difficult, but we intend to follow
through,” Anushka had said.

In the same interview, the actress said Virat and she are
determined to share parental duties equally.

“Times have changed. It’s important for children to look at
parents—they learn from you. And there is a sense of normalcy that both of us
do work. Of course, one will have to manage things differently and more
efficiently to work,” she said.

This evening, Virat tweeted, “We are thrilled to share with
you that we have been blessed with a baby girl this afternoon. We thank you all
for your love, prayers and good wishes. Anushka and the baby are both healthy
and we are feeling beyond blessed to start this new chapter of our lives. We
hope that you can respect our privacy at this time. Love, Virat.”

 Fans responded with congratulatory
messages to the couple. 

Virat returned to India to be with his wife after the first
Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval in December

In August 2020, Virat and Anushka announced that they will
be welcoming their first child in January 2021. “And then, we were three!
Arriving Jan 2021,” both the actor and the cricketer shared on their
Instagram handles.