‘IT WAS CRICKETS APART FROM DHONI’
Kohli reveals lack of support as he discusses his break and enjoying the game again
VIRAT KOHLI has revealed that only Mahendra Singh Dhoni sent him messages of support during a tough phase of mental struggle after he quit the Indian Test captaincy.
Kohli, 33, has shrugged off his extended dry run with the bat at the Asia Cup, hitting two successive half-centuries, including 60 against Pakistan in a losing cause in Dubai last Sunday (4).
The star batsman took a month off to recharge ahead of the sixnation tournament that acts as a tune-up to the T20 World Cup beginning next month.
The former captain’s loss of form became a constant talking point in world cricket, but he said the hard times had revealed his true friends.
“I would only say one thing, when I left Test captaincy I got messages only from MS Dhoni and nobody else,” Kohli said.
“Lot of people have my number and say things on TV but no one sent me a message. If you want to give me suggestions, give me one-on-one, otherwise it has no meaning to me.”
Kohli started his Test and ODI career in 2011 when Dhoni was India captain.
“The respect and connection that you have with someone, that shows in this way,” Kohli said.
“There are some connections which are genuine and it has some security.”
The former top-ranked Test batsman gave up the T20 captaincy after last year’s World Cup, and was soon axed as one-day skipper in the worst period of his international career.
Kohli, who has not scored an international century since November 2019, then relinquished the Test leadership in January as Rohit Sharma became captain across all formats.
Several critics, among them former World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, even suggested he should be dropped.
But Kohli insisted such comments had never bothered him. He was speaking after his 44-ball 60 helped India to 181-7, which Pakistan overhauled with a ball to spare in a thrilling Super Four contest last weekend.
“I never really paid attention to these things to be honest,” he told reporters. “Played 14 years and it doesn’t happen by chance. My job is to work hard on my game, something that I am keen to do.”
He added that he was welcomed back to the India dressing room after his month-long break, and was “absolutely loving playing all over again and feeling good when batting.”
Kohli, who has struck 27 centuries in 102 Tests, recently opened up about his struggles with mental health, admitting he tried to fake intensity on the field.
“It’s not bad to take a break and I hope this gives people strength and are able to address their feelings,” he reiterated.
“Anybody can have such feelings, but it’s important to recognise and take care of it.
“You will get more frustrated if you ignore it. I am happy, I am excited and enjoying my cricket again which was the most important thing for me.”
Kohli said the break gave him a new perspective.
“It has given me the kind of relaxation that this is not the be-all and end-all of life,” he said.
“I need to enjoy the game. I can’t put so much pressure on myself of expectation and all those things that I’m not able to express myself. That’s not why I started playing this game. I’m happy and excited. I’m enjoying the game once again and it’s the most important thing for me.”
Having a friendly dressing room helped him rediscover the emotional connect with the game and its “purity”, Kohli said.
“When I came here, the environment was very welcoming and the camaraderie with the boys is amazing. So I’m absolutely loving playing all over again and feeling good with the way I’m batting.”
Meanwhile, legendary India opener Sunil Gavaskar responded to Kohli’s comments by saying the latter should have disclosed the names of those teammates who didn’t contact him.
“I don’t know what the dressing-room situation was with all these other players,” he said.
“I think, ideally, if he named one person who got in touch, maybe the other people who did not get in touch should have also been named. Then that would have been a little bit fair to everyone concerned, rather than thinking everybody else didn’t get in touch with him.”