Suresh Batra, Virat Kohli’s coach in his teenage years, has died on Thursday when he was 53. The Delhi-based coach Batra, who was assistant coach to Rajkumar Sharma when current India captain Virat Kohli began training at the West Delhi Cricket Academy.
Virat Kohli began coaching under Rajkumar Sharma and Suresh Batra at the age of nine. The deceased had told in an interview that after coming to the West Delhi Cricket Academy, he was surprised to see a brilliant six coming out of Virat Kohli’s bat.
Suresh Batra Dies Aged 53
According to senior journalist Vijay Lokapally, Suresh Batra collapsed on Thursday morning after his daily prayers. The Delhi-based coach, who was assistant coach to Rajkumar Sharma when Virat Kohli initially began training at West Delhi Cricket Academy, passed away on Thursday 20th May at the age of 53.
According to Vijay Lokapally, he was doing fine, before he suddenly collapsed after his morning prayers.
Suresh Batra was instrumental along with Rajkumar Sharma in shaping up Virat Kohli’s career. The duo always taught the Indian skipper to work hard in achieving the goals. Over the years, the 31-year-old cricketer has often lauded the efforts of his coaches in helping him become one of the best players in the world.
“Suresh Batra (striped t-shirt), who coached @imVkohli when he was a teenager, passed away on Thursday. He had finished his daily morning puja and collapsed. He was 53,” Lokapally tweeted.
Suresh Batra (striped t-shirt), who coached @imVkohli when he was a teenager, passed away on Thursday. He had finished his daily morning puja and collapsed. He was 53. "I lost my younger brother. Knew him since 1985," said Rajkumar Sharma. May his soul Rest in Peace…. pic.twitter.com/pW3avt6NpP
— Vijay Lokapally ?? (@vijaylokapally) May 21, 2021
He further quoted Rajkumar Sharma, Kohli’s childhood coach, as saying, “I lost my younger brother. Knew him since 1985.”
Years before Virat Kohli nobody would have that he would become the batting superstar that he is today, it was Rajkumar Sharma and Suresh Batra, who helped him hone his talent when he started training under them aged nine.
Suresh Batra Also Trained Manjot Kalra
Besides Virat Kohli, several other notable Delhi cricketers including the 2018 Under-19 World Cup-winner Manjot Kalra, who also scored a century in the final against Australia, also trained under Suresh Batra.
Many Indian cricketers lost their loved ones in the last few months. Indian women’s cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy’s sister and mother died due to COVID-19. While Priya Punia lost her mother while RP Singh and Piyush Chawla have lost their respective fathers due to the deadly Corona Virus. Earlier this week, pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s father passed away after a long battle with cancer.