Virat Kohli has returned to his former self not only in Indian cricket but also in the IPL, making the discussion and criticism surrounding his performance seem like ancient history. Between the years 2020 and mid-2022, Kohli endured a forgettable stretch. During that time, the Indian cricket legend, who was renowned for breaking records and scoring hundreds at will, struggled to achieve the century mark in all formats.
Discussions about the end of Kohli’s hegemony and criticism of his performance and position in the Indian squad reached their zenith. Even though the 34-year-old recovered in top-notch fashion, as he always does, he stated that MS Dhoni was the only person who reached out to him during his difficult time.
However, on Monday, Kohli revealed that it was not only Dhoni who had sought out him; he also revealed that Robin Uthappa had contacted him during the testing period. After relinquishing the captaincy, Kohli hoped that his form would improve without the added burden, but his poor play persisted until the 2022 Asia Cup.
Jio Cinema, the official digital broadcaster of the IPL 2023, aired an interview between Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa prior to RCB’s match against Chennai Super Kings on Monday, April 17, in which Kohli revealed that Uthappa, in addition to Dhoni, had contacted him.
“Because I was not in a place where I was comfortable with myself, I was searching for all sorts of excuses, such as the weather or technological advancements. But you were in contact with me at the time, and I eventually realized that others cannot experience what I am feeling. You detected something concerning in my body language and inquired, “Are you okay?” I just wanted to see how you’re doing. “This rarely occurred,” Kohli stated.
When your mental health is compromised, you are all over the place. Virat Kohli
The former captain of India and Royal Challengers Bangalore went on to say that Uthappa’s action was significant because so many people had given him options to escape without realizing that his problem lay elsewhere. Continuing on the same topic, he added:
“Everyone was of the opinion that we observe this, and this is the solution. I was unable to convey that whatever shortcoming exists is a result of this (indicating his cranium). When your mental health is compromised, you are all over the place. Due to my fifteen years of experience, there were no technical issues. It is inconceivable that everything has come to a halt and that technical issues are surfacing at this time. When I returned refreshed and began hitting the ball again, people remarked, “Wow, you’ve made significant changes.” However, I did not swing the bat for six weeks.”
Kohli had previously stated in a press conference that MS Dhoni was the only person besides his coach and family members to reach out to him during a difficult period in his career. During the recent conversation, Kohli also disclosed that Dhoni, who never answers his phone and has no idea where it is typically kept, was the one who made the call, which made Virat Kohli realize how genuine his relationship with the former India captain was.
MS Dhoni is the only individual, besides my childhood coach and family, who has reached out to me sincerely. He (Dhoni) reached out to me despite being difficult to contact. If I call him on any random day, he will not pick up the phone 99 percent of the time because he simply does not glance at the phone. So, for him to reach out to me twice, he mentioned in one of the messages that when you are expected to be strong and viewed as a strong individual, people forget to inquire how you’re doing, Virat Kohli said.
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