It was not an easy road to success for Indian captain Virat Kohli. The talismanic batsman had to work really hard to achieve superstar status. In fact, Kohli lost his father when he was just 19 years old. It was a big blow for the cricketer who had the vision to make it big at the topmost level. It is also well known that Kohli went back to bat for Delhi in the four-day first-class match after his father died.
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Kohli stated that it was the most impactful moment of his career. After finishing the final rites, Kohli made his mind that he will go on to play for the national team as his father also wanted him to compete at the topmost level.
Kohli is the best in the business.
Kohli had a solid determination to succeed and prepared against all the odds. In fact, to resume batting on the day when his father died speaks volume about the current Indian captain.
“I was playing a four-day game at the time and was supposed to resume batting the next day when this (father passed) happened at 230 odd in the morning. We all woke up but had no idea what to do. I literally saw him breathe his last,” told Graham Bensinger in an interview.
“We drove him to the hospital where unfortunately they could not help revive him. My family broke down but I could not cry and there was no emotion. I could not register what had happened and I was blank. I called my coach in the morning and told him what had happened and that I wanted to play because leaving a cricket match was not acceptable to me no matter what. While my teammates were consoling me in the dressing room I got overwhelmed by the emotion and broke down,” he added.
It would not be wrong to say that Kohli’s father death turned him from a boy to a man. The linchpin batsman then took the responsibility and the results were palpable for everyone.
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It was the most impactful thing.
“Now I feel like it was the most impactful thing to have happened in my life. I came back from the game for the last rites and promised my brother that I will play for India. My father was keen that I play for India and that was when everything in life became second priority. Cricket became first priority,” said Kohli.
Kohli stated that the incident helped him fight all against all the odds. The Indian captain added that he was able to come back when he was put on the ropes. Kohli is well known to give his 120% when he is on the field and he never gives up or takes anything for granted.
Kohli got up when he felled down.
“The one thing which remained constant was every time I was down, every time I hit rock bottom somehow I was able to put everything aside and say right I am gonna work hard and get back up. So it’s not like I made a promise that I am never gonna fall down, obviously, I was gonna fall down that’s life. That is always gonna happen in life and sport but the ability to come back, again and again, made me realize that that incident was the one incident that helped me become so strong. Right now I feel so grateful that I could get that strength from such a bad time in my life, as well.” Kohli said.
International cricket star @imVkohli opens up about how his father’s death impacted him: pic.twitter.com/GKiQ1Y6omP
— Graham Bensinger (@GrahamBensinger) September 7, 2019