Kolkata : Modern day legend Virat Kohli has recalled a turning point in his career where India’s former captain and coach MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten respectively backed him.
In a new episode of the RCB Podcast: Bold and Beyond titled Mindset of a Champion, Kohli sat down with anchor Mayanti Langer and opened up about a critical turning point in his early career: when MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten trusted him with the crucial No. 3 spot in India’s batting order.
Kohli said that back then, he was determined to win games for India.
Mayanti Langer pointed out that back in the early days, there was not much external pressure or push on Kohli to think beyond IPL – even though conversations around his potential were starting.
Responding to that, Kohli said he was “very realistic” about his game in those days.
“I did not feel like my game was anywhere close to theirs [other players]. The only thing I had was determination; if I wanted to make my team win, I was willing to do anything,” said Kohli.
And this attitude of determination impressed Dhoni and Gary.
Kohli admitted that at the time, he was not seen as a match winner.
“I was never looked at as this outright match-winner who can change the game from anywhere. But I had this thing of – I’m going to stay in the fight. I’m not going to give up. And that is what they backed,” he added.
That backing gave him the space to evolve. Kohli confessed he was not the most technically gifted cricketer when he started out, but his hunger to learn and improve set him apart.
“I was very keen to learn. I wanted to be the best. There is no denying that. And that hunger to improve helped me win more games for my team,” he concluded.
Kohli went on to say, “Gary (Gary Kirsten)and MS (MS Dhoni) made it very clear to me that ‘we are backing you to play at number three. What you represent on the field: your energy, your engagement, is of the biggest value to us”.
The duo of Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni was instrumental in winning ICC WC 2011.After some time from then, the world saw what Kohli could do at number 3, as he turned out into legend.
