‘Not easy being an Icon’

Cricketer Virat Kohli says there is a lot of responsibility that comes with being a celebrity

He has not only earned the tag of being a swashbuckling batsman of the Indian cricket team but also that of a youth icon. However, cricketer

Virat Kohli (above) says being a role model for others is a huge responsibility as it can “affect a lot of people”. Living under the constant public gaze is not always a smooth ride, and Kohli has often been caught on the wrong-foot — be it his angry rants or heated conversations ono the field.

The cricketer, who is rumouredr to be in an on-o and- off relationship with actor Anushka Sharma, says he “wishes to learnle from his mistakes”. “Being a role model for youngy people is a great feeling.fe When people come up and say that they look up to you and they draw inspiration from you, it meansm a lot personally. But it also carries a huge responsibility as everything I do and say affects a lot of people,”p says Kohli, who has been connecting personally with his fans via his official fan club. He says he thought of creating this official fan club because he often wants to talk to people about what has worked in buildingb his success story.

“For me, discipline and hard work are top priorities. I am also passionate about learning, which means that I looklo at my past performance anda wish to learn from my mistakes.m These are some of the things that I hope get picked up by my fans,” Kohli adds.

The 27-year-old says that while his fans look up to him, he depends on them too. “They motivate me to do my best every time I am out on the field. I love connecting with my fans through social media but there is no substitute for a personal face-to-face meeting,” he says.

Being a role model for young people is a great feeling. But it also carries a huge responsibility as everything I do affects people VIRAT KOHLI, CRICKETER