Kohli reveals others supported him during lean patch

The cricketing world was left stunned as Virat Kohli struggled to find his rhythm between 2020 and late 2022. For a player who was known to score centuries at will and shatter records, this was a forgettable phase. The criticisms and talks about his form and place in the team only added to his woes. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Kohli is back to his vintage self. His blazing performances in both Indian cricket and IPL have silenced the critics, and the talks of his decline seem like a distant memory. Although he has previously mentioned that MS Dhoni was the only one who reached out to him during that lean phase, he recently revealed that it was a collective effort by the Indian setup that helped him bounce back. It’s a delight to watch Kohli play with the same intensity and hunger that he had before, and it’s safe to say that the world’s best batsman is back with a bang.

The cricketing world was abuzz with Kohli’s struggles as he went through a tumultuous phase. Despite being one of the finest batsmen of his generation, he found it hard to reach the century mark in any format. To make matters worse, a spat with former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly saw him stripped of his captaincy position in Tests, further adding to his woes. And as if that wasn’t enough, Kohli’s form hit rock bottom as he struggled to even score a fifty. It was indeed a roller coaster of emotions for the Indian skipper, but as they say, the tough times don’t last, but tough people do.

When it comes to the world of cricket, few names hold as much significance as Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Last year, Kohli made a thundering return during the Asia Cup, where he scored his first T20I ton, effectively ending his century drought. Interestingly, in an RCB podcast, Kohli revealed that during this period, Dhoni had reached out to him not once but twice. The powerful connection between these two players is undeniable and speaks volumes about the camaraderie within the Indian cricket team. It’s a reminder that even when competition is at its peak, there’s always a place for support and encouragement.

The only person who, apart from my childhood coach and family, genuinely reached out to me has been MS Dhoni. He (Dhoni) reached out to me and you can rarely get in touch with him. If I call him on any random day, 99 per cent he will not pick up (the phone), because he just does not look at the phone. So, for him to reach out to me, twice it has happened now, and one of the things that he’d mentioned in the message while reaching out to me was that: ‘when you are expected to be strong and looked at as a strong individual, people forget to ask how are you doing?

In a recent interview with Robin Uthappa, India’s cricket captain Virat Kohli shed light on an interesting anecdote that spoke volumes about the camaraderie and support system among players. According to Kohli, Uthappa had been a constant source of encouragement and guidance during a tough phase in his career. This revelation sheds light on the importance of relationships not just within the team, but also across teams in any sports setting. It shows that the spirit of collaboration and mutual support can transcend rivalries and benefit everyone involved. As fans of cricket or any sport, we can learn a lot from these stories of resilience and friendship that flourish in the midst of competition.

Because I was not in a space where I was comfortable with myself, I was looking for all kinds of excuses that it must be happening because of this and that or technical changes. But you were in touch with me at that point of time and I beyond a point I figured out people cannot feel what I am feeling. You sensed something with my body language and asked ‘Are you okay? Just wanted to check in on you.’ That happened very rarely

Robin Uthappa, the Indian cricketer, was receiving suggestions from many people on how to solve his problems on the field. However, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain recognized that these suggestions were not helpful because they did not address the root cause of his struggles. It takes expertise to understand the intricacies of cricket and identify what may be holding a player back. This is why the captain’s support was so significant. It’s not just about breaking shackles; it’s about helping players like Uthappa excel and achieve their true potential. The willingness to listen, guide and identify underlying issues is what separates great leaders like the former RCB captain from the rest.

Everyone was like we observe this and this is the solution for it. I couldn’t get the point across that whatever shortcoming is there is because of this (pointing towards his head). When you are not right mentally, you are all over the place. There were no technical issues because I have done this for 15 years. It can’t be that all went to a standstill and the technical issues pop out right now. When I came back fresh and started hitting the ball again and people were like ‘oh you made some serious changes’. But I didn’t pick up the bat for six weeks.