Virat Kohli said that he went through a difficult period following his resignation as India’s captain, but he expressed gratitude to Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour for helping him rediscover the love of cricket.
In 2022, after stepping down as captain, Kohli amassed just 265 runs at an average of 26.5 from six Test matches, with just one fifty.
After assuming leadership of the Indian squad in November 2021 alongside batting coach Rathour, Dravid revived Kohli’s hunger by supporting the struggling star batsman.
“Only when I left captaincy, I opened up and I shared a lot more with people like Rahul bhai and Vikram Rathour. I had a great run in Test cricket in 2023 and whenever I meet them, I always thank them from the bottom of my heart.
“They really took care of me in a way that made me feel like I wanted to play for them. I want to perform. I want to go out there and grind it out. They were so caring and nurturing. They made me realise what I have done so far,” PTI quoted Kohli as saying during the third edition of the RCB Innovation Lab’s Indian Sports Summit.
According to the former Indian captain, Dravid and Rathour were able to help Kohli overcome his inner problems.
“Rahul bhai has done that way better than a lot of people in Test cricket. Vikram has been around for so many years. So, they understood what I was feeling and they could relate to it. They really took care of me mentally.
“So that really put me in a space where I could enjoy my cricket again. But yeah, when I was in the thick of things, I never really felt like I wanted someone to ask me. I was pretty okay with managing everything,” he added.
Kohli had a fantastic 2023 under Dravid’s guidance, amassing 671 runs at an average of 56 from eight Test matches, including two hundreds and an equal number of fifties.
However, Kohli said that, without realizing it, captaincy has devoured his inner self.
“I ended up being in a place where I became the focal point of our batting unit and leadership. I didn’t realise how much load both those things will present in my daily life because I was so driven and motivated to make sure that Indian cricket stays on top.
“And that’s precisely why by the time I left captaincy, I was completely spent. I was completely consumed by it. It was gruesome. It was difficult to manage expectations.”
According to Kohli, this kind of burden didn’t bother him when he was at his best, but once he reached his pinnacle as a cricketer, it started to get to him.
“The key there during my prime was to make sure the team was secure. You know, that insecurity doesn’t enter the change room. For that, I have to give massive credit to the management – Ravi Shastri and the team. But the form doesn’t quite stay for long, then, yeah, both those responsibilities start weighing on you. So, it was tough,” he said.
