Indian batting legend Virat Kohli He has always been known for his fiery mindset, and the recent revelation of his early cricketing days by his former Delhi teammate once again highlights the aggression and determination that shaped his journey to the top of the cricketing world.
Kohli's former Delhi teammate recalled an incident from the star Indian batsman's Under-17 days, where despite scoring a ton of runs and establishing himself as an outstanding performer in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, the young Kohli had to deal with the prejudice of a coach who was not particularly supportive.
According to teammates, Kohli had scored several centuries as well as a double century last season, making him a well-known name in the circuit. However, lack of support from the coach added fuel to the fire. Instead of getting upset, Kohli responded in trademark style ahead of the crucial match against Punjab.
“When we were playing Under-17, we played two seasons – Virat scored a double century and a couple of centuries in the last season. Virat was a well-known name in the Delhi circuit. He was always excellent. Now, when it came to the next season, there was a particular coach who was not in favor of Virat, so despite that kind of record he was trying to drag him down in his own way,” said Anand, former Delhi Ranji player and head of academies and former Delhi talent scout Meha. Capitals said by Bhardwaj Alter on The Quiet Rise Podcast.
“Our first game was against Punjab in Patiala. It was Punjab's home ground. Siddharth Kaul One of their fast bowlers was there, and another guy, Amanpreet… they were performing very well. He was a terror in the fast bowling circuit. So all the odds were against us. Virat has always been such a player who would love it if you challenge him.
And as history has shown many times during Kohli's storied career, he proved his words right as he scored a double century in that game, continuing his impressive performances throughout the season and playing a vital role in helping Delhi lift the Vijay Merchant Trophy.
“Here I am talking about mental flexibility. Before that match, we were just having a casual conversation. We were talking about how this match is going to be. Now, this was a personal conversation that we had. He said, 'I will beat the living hell out of these guys,' in his proper Delhi language. He scored a double century in that game. That season, he scored another double century, along with three more centuries, and in that season, Delhi Vijay Merchant became a champion. So, you see, that kind of challenge. Imagine the authority in that age group, but still he could not stop a person like Virat.
The remarkable campaign included several big scores, including an innings of 227, underscoring the hunger and mental toughness that would later define Kohli's international career. His rise was rapid, eventually leading India to the Under-19 World Cup title in 2008.
Virat Kohli is ready for IPL 2026
The right-handed batsman is preparing for his 19th season in the Indian Premier League for the defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore. Breaking records is nothing new for him and he can break many more records in this year's edition. Currently, he has 8661 runs in the IPL and if he scores just 339 runs, Kohli will become the first batsman in IPL history to cross the 9000-run mark.
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