Renowned as one of the premier players in contemporary cricket, Virat Kohli requires no formal introduction. During his initial foray into the Indian team, a young and ambitious Virat exhibited a palpable hunger and determination, swiftly translating these qualities into match-winning performances.
As time progressed, the global cricketing fraternity acknowledged that he wasn’t merely an average cricketer; he was destined for greatness. Hailing from Delhi, Kohli lived up to the burgeoning expectations, orchestrating victories for the team almost single-handedly, a feat validated by his remarkable records.
Elevated to the captaincy in the longest format, Kohli took charge from the illustrious Mahendra Singh Dhoni, transforming India into a formidable force in Test cricket. Test matches in SENA countries were no longer approached to merely draw; victories became the norm.
Virat’s mother said: “My husband passed away in his sleep at around 2 in the morning. Virat was in two minds about whether to play or not. Rajkumar Sharma (Virat’s coach since his childhood) who was in Australia then advised him not to let go off a chance since it is so difficult to make it to the team. It was difficult for Virat. He came directly to the funeral after his knock of 90. He was wrongly given out. I remember that too.”
“Virat changed a bit after that day. Overnight he became a much more matured person. He took every match seriously. He hated being on the bench. It’s as if his life hinged totally on cricket after that day. Now, he looked like he was chasing his father’s dream which was his own too.”
Under Kohli’s leadership, not only did the team excel on the field, but off it, the fitness standards also witnessed a significant upswing. Commanding the squad in white-ball cricket, Kohli boasted an impressive record in limited-overs formats. Despite being 35 years old, he remains one of the fittest members of the Indian cricket team.
A remarkable milestone in Kohli’s career saw him surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, now holding the record for the most centuries in ODIs. His illustrious ODI career spans 292 matches, accumulating an impressive 13,848 runs. In Test cricket, Kohli amassed 8848 runs in 113 matches at an average close to 50. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that Kohli’s journey to becoming one of the fittest cricketers wasn’t without hurdles. In his early days, he was a slightly heavier individual, nurturing a fervent passion for representing his nation.
Doubts loomed over his ability to secure a spot in the Indian team, but a pivotal moment occurred in 2006 when his father passed away due to a brain stroke. Despite the personal tragedy, Kohli exhibited resilience, returning to play a stellar 90-run inning for Delhi’s Ranji side. This event marked a transformative shift in his mindset, a transformation even noted by his mother in a later interview.
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