Superstar cricketer Virat Kohli of India expressed candidly about the internal struggles he faced during the recent T20 World Cup, in which the team India won. Kohli acknowledged that his ego got in the way of his play as he was unable to give it his all and frequently got out easily .
Virat Kohli’s Candid Conversation with PM Modi
Virat Kohli shared his struggles during an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who invited the victorious Indian squad to his official residence on Thursday morning for a breakfast.
“First of all, thank you so much for inviting us,” Kohli began. “This day (T20 World Cup final) will always stay with me because, throughout the tournament, I couldn’t contribute as much as I wanted to.”
A Chat with Rahul Dravid
Virat continued, “At one point, I told Rahul bhai that I wasn’t doing justice to myself and the team. He replied, ‘When the situation demands, I am confident you will perform’. So, considering the kind of tournament I had, I wasn’t sure if I could play the way I wanted in the final.”
Turning Point in the Final
Kohli shared a crucial moment from the final against South Africa. After hitting three boundaries in the first over bowled by Marco Jansen, he had a revealing conversation with Rohit Sharma. “I told Rohit, ‘What a game this is! One day you feel like you can not score at all, and the next, everything happens.’ When we lost three wickets, I had to surrender to the situation and focus purely on what was best for the team.”
The Game-Changing Moment
Recalling the match’s turning point, Kohli said, “I felt pushed into a zone I couldn’t explain. Later, I realised what’s destined will happen. The way we won, how the game turned around – we can’t explain what we were feeling. At one point, we lost hope, then Hardik’s crucial wicket of Heinrich Klaasen brought us back. I’m happy I could contribute on such a big occasion. I will never forget this.”
Family’s Reaction
PM Modi inquired about Kohli’s family’s reaction. Kohli explained, “The good thing is, there was a significant time difference, so I didn’t talk to my family much. My mother takes a lot of tension.”
Ego and Respect for the Game
Kohli concluded with a profound realisation. “I realised that when you think you can do anything, your ego takes over, and the game slips away. I had to set my ego aside. The situation demanded that I put my pride aside for the team. When you respect the game, it respects you. That’s what I learned.”
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