The 3rd edition of RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit Powered by Leaders witnessed one of the most awaited sessions Virat Kohli Consider the leadership, pressure and mindset required to consistently perform at the highest level of a specific sport.
In a candid conversation titled 'Mind over everything: Virat Kohli on peak performance', Kohli opened up about the pursuit of excellence that has shaped his journey across nearly two decades in international cricket.
Reflecting on what drove him as a player and a goal-chaser, he said, “I'm wired in a way that I always want more responsibility and more load. That's where I perform at my best.”
Kohli also talked about finding purpose beyond individual performance and how leadership allowed him to push himself.
“You don't have time to think about yourself. It's a beautiful place to live. If I can play for a bigger cause, a bigger cause, I can perform beyond my capabilities,” he said.
He also recalled his time working with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathod in the Indian cricket team.
Kohli said, “I had a great time and whenever I meet him, I thank him from the bottom of my heart because he took care of me in a way that made me feel that I wanted to play for him. He understood what I was feeling and he took care of me mentally. It got me to a place where I could enjoy my cricket again.”
On his long-term commitment towards his fitness, the star batsman said, “I don't really call it sacrifice. People call it that when you let things go, but I look at it as sophistication.”
For me, it's about being honest about the opportunity. There are millions of people who want to be in this position, want to play for India and play at the highest level. So I don't think it's something that should be celebrated as extraordinary. This should be ideal. This is how the culture of sports grows.”
Kohli also reflected on the impact it has on athletes beyond performance and statistics.
He said, “For me now, impact is about building trust. If people can see your journey, your discipline or the way you react under pressure and feel inspired in their own lives, that's probably the most gratifying thing.”
The summit also discussed the commercial growth of IPL and WPL, India's Olympic ambitions and enhancing the fan experience at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Speakers included Hari Ranjan Rao, IAS, Secretary, Department of Sports, Government of India, Seemant Kumar Singh, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, Vamsi Krishna, Joint Commissioner of Police – West, Bengaluru City Police, and Sandeep Agarwal, Head – Group Corporate Finance, Aditya Birla Group, Rajesh Menon, CEO, RCB, Mo Bobt, Director of Cricket, RCB, who spoke on the Indian game, infrastructure, governance, building championship teams and the sports ecosystem. Shared insights on the evolving landscape of long-term investing in India.
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