At 35, Virat Kohli has firmly established himself as a legend in the world of cricket. For years, the question of who would follow in Sachin Tendulkar’s footsteps remained unanswered. However, Kohli emerged as the one to not only reach but potentially surpass the level of greatness associated with Tendulkar. The debate over whether Kohli has eclipsed Tendulkar’s legacy continues, but one thing is undeniable: Kohli has become an icon and a symbol of loyalty in Indian cricket.
Many believe Kohli’s path to cricketing immortality began in 2012, marked by his unbeaten 133 at Hobart, where he led India to a successful chase of 321 runs in just 37 overs, or his 183 not out against Pakistan in the Asia Cup the same year. Others point to his transformation after adopting a healthier lifestyle, which saw him evolve from a promising youngster into arguably the greatest batter of his generation. His golden run between 2016 and 2018, featuring a record-breaking IPL season and three centuries on the tour of England, is often cited as the peak of his career.
“I remember this one incident. Viru [Virender Sehwag] had gotten injured I supposed. [Ajantha] Mendis was getting everyone out. He comes in, young guy, free energy. He batted and scored a fifty. He asked me ‘Paaji, how did I play? I said, ‘Very well’. He then said ‘Paaji, I shouldn’t have gotten out, should have smacked him more’. Loved the attitude,” he informed Taruwar Kohli on the latter’s podcast.
However, for former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, the turning point in Kohli’s journey came much earlier, in 2008. Harbhajan recalls a young Kohli during his debut series for India, where despite scoring a brilliant half-century in just his fifth ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium, Kohli was not satisfied. This was a time when Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis was terrorizing Indian batsmen, having taken 23 wickets in three Tests and continuing his dominance in the ODIs. Even under such challenging circumstances, Kohli’s hunger for more and his dissatisfaction with anything less than excellence hinted at the greatness that was to come. This moment, according to Harbhajan, marked the true beginning of Kohli’s legendary career.
Virat Kohli doubted whether he belongs in the big league
During Virat Kohli’s Test debut in 2011, the young cricketer faced significant challenges that shook his confidence. Playing against the West Indies, Kohli managed to score only 76 runs across five innings in three Tests, with scores of 4, 15, 0, 27, and 30. Although his confidence grew with each inning, and he appeared more assured as the series progressed, the initial failures left him doubting his place in the big league. Harbhajan Singh, a senior member of the team at the time, later revealed that these struggles had a profound impact on Kohli, causing him to second-guess his abilities.
“If I tell you something about his Test cricket, at the very beginning. We were in West Indies. On that tour, Fidel Edwards (former West Indies quick) had troubled him a lot, getting him out either LBW or against the short ball. He was getting out time and again, so obviously was very disappointed. He had self-doubt, questioned ‘If I am good enough?’ I told him ‘You will shame yourself if you don’t score 10000 runs. You have the capability of scoring 10000 runs in Test cricket. And if you don’t, it’ll be because of your own fault’. After that, what Kohli has done is a once-in-a-lifetime exception,” Bhajji, who claimed India’s first Test hat-trick, introduced.
However, from that difficult beginning in Barbados, Kohli’s journey over the next 13 years became nothing short of remarkable. He transformed into one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, breaking numerous records and becoming the face of Indian cricket. Kohli’s relentless desire and hunger to excel, as Harbhajan pointed out, set him apart from others, both then and now. As of now, Kohli has accumulated 8848 runs in Test cricket from 113 matches. With a long cricket season ahead, he is well on his way to surpassing the 10,000-run milestone, further cementing his legacy in the sport.
“I have seen him change. His diet, his mindset – ‘That I don’t want to be just an ordinary player. I want to be someone who people will know for a long time’. The stubbornness I saw in myself, Kohli has a lot more of it. I want to be that guy winning games and scoring hundreds for India. He was scoring hundreds back-to-back in Australia. It was the first time India chasing 400 runs… and they are going after it. We may lose but we’ll fight. That attitude of keep going, that’s what makes you a player. Kohli has left an everlasting impact on Indian cricket,” attached Harbhajan.
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