Virat Kohli, the star batsman for India, recently discussed his various responsibilities with the national squad. The standout batsman used a Champions Trophy 2025 partnership with Shreyas Iyer as an example, in which he anchored the innings from his end while his partner took charge. The 36-year-old asserted that it had everything to do with the circumstances of the game and had nothing to do with the batters’ ego.
At one point in the game, the Indian batter asserted that the player who appeared to be in a better rhythm to take on the bowlers would take the initiative. According to the 26-year-old, the players’ strategy was entirely dependent on the circumstances of the game, their comprehension of it, and what was to be done at a given moment.
“Shreyas (Iyer) took charge in one of the Champions Trophy games, if you look at how things worked out even lately. Ego was never the issue. Naturally, I took the lead at that point if I was in rhythm and in the game’s flow. Someone else would take the initiative if they were in a better position to. It was never about feeling like I couldn’t do anything or attempting to overshadow others. It’s always been about knowing the game scenario, and I’ve always been proud of that. In a JioHotstar broadcast, Kohli stated, “I want to play based on what the situation calls for.”
I didn’t really succeed in the IPL at first: Virat Kohli
Following that, the RCB batsman started playing in the IPL. Looking back at his career from 2008 to 2024, Virat Kohli asserted that he has made significant progress. The right-hander claimed that during his first three seasons, he was not given the opportunity to bat higher in the order. He believed that to be a major factor in his failure to succeed early in his IPL career.
The RCB opener regretted the fact that he could not do as well in the 2009 season, which he believed had surfaces that suited his style of batting. The star batter added that he got consistent after 2010 and regularly contributed towards team’s success from the 2011 season. He felt it was the point where his IPL career took off.
“I didn’t get many chances to bat in the top order during my first three years with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Usually, I was sent in lower. So, other from the odd powerful knock, I wasn’t really able to break into the IPL early on. However, I felt a little better about the 2009 season. That year’s pitches were ideal for me; I could play my shots more freely and the ball was hitting the bat wonderfully. It was undoubtedly a fascinating time in my professional life. I began to perform more consistently in 2010 and was batting at number three on a regular basis by 2011. My IPL journey really started to take shape at that point,” Kohli said.
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