Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is known for his strong mindset. A former teammate from Delhi recently shared a story from Kohli’s early career that highlights his drive and determination.
The teammate recalled a time during Kohli’s Under-17 days when, despite his impressive performance in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, he faced bias from a coach who was not supportive of him.
According to the teammate, Kohli had already scored a double century and several hundreds in the previous season, making him well-known in the Cricket community. However, the coach’s lack of support only motivated him further. As the team prepared for an important match against Punjab, Kohli was determined to prove himself.
“When we were playing Under-17, Virat had scored a double century and a couple of centuries in the previous season. He was already a known name in Delhi. In the following season, there was a coach who wasn’t in favor of him, trying to undermine him despite his record,” Anand, a former Delhi Ranji player, said in The Quiet Rise Podcast with Meha Bhardwaj Alter.
“Our first game was against Punjab on their home ground. Sidharth Kaul and Amanpreet were strong bowlers, and we felt the odds were against us. Virat always thrived on challenges.”
As it turned out, Kohli responded brilliantly by scoring another double century in that match. This performance was a key part of Delhi’s success in winning the Vijay Merchant Trophy that season.
“I’m talking about mental strength here. Before the match, we chatted casually about how it might go. He said, ‘I will beat the living hell out of these people,’ in his typical Delhi style. He ended up scoring a double century and had another one that season along with three more hundreds, leading Delhi to become champions in the Vijay Merchant Trophy. Despite the coach’s authority, Virat did not let that stop him.”
