Indian cricket team star batter Virat Kohli has opened up about his deep and ‘special’ bond with childhood friend and former India teammate Ishant Sharma. The two cricketers share a journey that began in age-group cricket, eventually becoming teammates in both domestic and international formats.
Ishant made his international debut before Virat Kohli, and a year later, Virat Kohli joined the Indian team. Despite their separate paths in cricket, their friendship has remained strong.
In a candid conversation on the latest episode of the RCB podcast ‘Bold and Beyond,’ Virat Kohli discussed various aspects of his life and career. When speaking about Ishant, Kohli described him as someone with whom he has always had a natural connection. “From Day 1, absolutely nothing has changed between us, whether we play together or not. I can share anything with him without fear of judgment, with complete understanding and empathy,” Kohli said.
Virat Kohli Opens Up on Stepping Down from Leadership Due to Mental Fatigue
Virat Kohli revealed that he stepped away from leadership roles after over eight years because the pressure had become “really tough” to handle. Kohli, who first led India’s U-19 team to a World Cup victory in 2008, went on to captain both the Indian national team and his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Despite his exceptional performance as a leader for India, he couldn’t secure an IPL title with RCB.
Speaking on the RCB Podcast – Mindset of a Champion, Virat Kohli explained, “At one point, it did become tough for me because there was just too much happening in my career. I was captaining India for 7-8 years and RCB for 9 years. Expectations were high, both as a captain and a batter. I didn’t have this sense that the attention was off me.”
He further added, “Whether it was captaincy or batting, I was constantly in the spotlight 24×7. It became overwhelming, and that’s why I stepped down. I wanted to be happy, to have a space where I could just come and play my cricket without being judged or constantly questioned about what I would achieve next.”
