Virat Kohli: When I gave up Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person-MS Dhoni
Virat Kohli talked about managing the pressure of the last six-odd months, the reactions and ideas that have come his direction in the absence of runs, and his perspective of it all while Kohli said that he was able to ‘find that excitement back’ on his comeback for the multi-team event.
Virat Kohli talked about managing the pressure of the last six-odd months, the reactions and ideas that have come his direction in the absence of runs, and his perspective of it all.
After the last year’s T20 World Cup loss, Kohli chose to step down from T20I captaincy. Rohit Sharma was then given a captaincy in both the white-ball formats while Kohli continued to abandon Test leadership too after the visit to South Africa where the hosts dug out from a deficit to win the series 2-1.
“One thing I can tell you is when I gave up Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person who I’ve played with before – MS Dhoni,”
Kohli said in the post-match press conference on Sunday.
“A lot of people have my number and a lot of people give suggestions on TV, but among people who have my number, I didn’t get a message from anyone else.
“When there’s respect and a connection with someone when it’s genuine, it looks like this. Because there’s security at both ends. Neither was I insecure with him [Dhoni] nor was he insecure with me. All I can say is if I want to tell someone something I’ll reach out individually if the help is needed. If you suggest it in front of the whole world, it holds no value to me. If it is something that will improve me then you can do it one-on-one also,”
Kohli opined.
“I’ve played for 14 years, it doesn’t happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something that I am always keen to do for the team and something that I continue to do. Everyone’s doing their job eventually, our job is to play the game, work hard, give our 120% and I’ve said it in the past that as long as I am doing that and the team has faith in that, what happens in the change room is the only thing that matters to us, and me personally,”
he said.
“People have their opinions and that’s fine but that doesn’t change my happiness as a person. I’ve taken some time away and put things in perspective. It’s given me kind of a relaxation that this is not the be-all and end-all of life. I need to enjoy the game, I can’t put so much pressure or expectation on myself, that I am not able to express myself. That is not why I started playing this game.
Kohli said that he was able to ‘find that excitement back’ on his comeback for the multi-team event and praised the current team environment that Rohit Sharma and the team management have managed to create.
“I was able to find that excitement back. And when I came here, the environment was very welcoming, the camaraderie with the boys is amazing, and the environment in the team is amazing. I am loving playing at the moment again and I am feeling good with the way I am batting.”
“Under pressure, anyone can make a mistake. It was a big match and the situation was tight. I remember when I first played in the Champions Trophy. Against Pakistan, I remember I hit a very bad shot off Shahid Afridi. Till 5 am the next morning, I was only staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. I thought I’ll never get a game again, my career is over. So it’s natural to feel like this (disheartened).
“When the team environment is good then you learn from it and when such an opportunity comes up again, you look forward to it, hoping the ball comes to you. I think I’d credit the management and captain for that team environment. They’ve created such an environment that the players feel if such an opportunity comes up again, we want it, that moment. The environment is good where you address your mistakes, accept and look forward to being under the same pressure situation,”
Kohli said.