Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) uncapped player Swastik Chikara revealed that Virat Kohli told him he would continue playing in the IPL only if he remains fit enough to field all 20 overs. The 20-year-old added that Kohli emphasized he would rather retire than play as just an impact player.
The Delhi-born star is widely regarded as one of the fittest cricketers globally and continues to be a top-notch fielder, even after turning 36 last November. Speaking during the ongoing 2025 UPT20 League, Swastik Chikara shared his comments on the Revsportz YouTube channel.
“Virat bhaiya (Virat Kohli) told me he will play cricket only if fully fit. I won’t play as an impact player. I will play like a tiger and field for 20 overs. I won’t just bat and sit out. He said, ‘I will play till I am fully fit and can field for 20 overs with full effort.’ ‘Mai impact me nahi kheloonga, sher ki tarah kheloonga.’”
Chikara shared his first meeting with Kohli, saying the star immediately broke the ice and put him at ease.
“We were simply standing and eating. I was looking at him for some time, and he replied, ‘Kya hogya? Khaega kya muyjhe? (What happened? Will you eat me? I said nothing as such. He then told me, ‘Kuch bol le, baat to kar (At least speak something)’. This was my first conversation with him. Before this, I had clicked a selfie with him when I was with the Delhi Capitals.”
“Focus On What You Can Control” – Swastik Chikara Shares Virat Kohli’s IPL 2025 Advice
Swastik Chikara also revealed some advice from Virat Kohli while he spent time on the bench during IPL 2025. He added in the same video:
“Last year, when I was in IPL, I didn’t get any game. Even this time around, I didn’t get the chance to play any game. I used to ask Virat bhaiya what I should do so that I could play. Think only about cricket; there is only practice in your hands. Do your work and don’t think about whether you’ll play or not. Do things that are in your hands. When the time comes, you’ll get to play.”
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