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[Watch] Virat Kohli's ‘Cheeku’ Nickname Origin Revealed, It's Not Dhoni's Creation

image-lm79zglnVirat Kohli reveals the story behind his nickname | Source: Twitter 

Virat Kohli, the batting maestro of India, is a beloved figure in the world of cricket. He's affectionately known as ‘Cheeku,' a nickname that gained fame when former Indian captain MS Dhoni began using it while keeping wickets.

In his recent conversation with Star Sports, Virat Kohli revealed the story behind his nickname ‘Cheeku’, stating that it was his state team Ranji cricket coach who gave him this nickname.

Digging into the backstory, he revealed that his coach gave him the nickname ''Cheeku' because of his appearance at the time, characterised by short hair, chubby cheeks, and large ears, which humorously resembled the comic book character ‘Cheeku,' a rabbit from 'Champak.’

Here’s what Virat Kohli said:

“My nickname is Cheeku. My state coach gave me that name as my ears are big and I cut my hair very short at that time. There was a comic named ‘Champak’, in which there was a rabbit character named 'Cheeku' who had big ears so he started calling me by that name. It became famous because Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] started taking that name close to the stump mic.” 

During the discussion, Virat Kohli also opened up about his favourite shot, and to everyone's surprise, it's not the cover drive, despite its widespread admiration among his fan base. 

Here’s what Kohli said on being asked about his favourite shot:

“My favourite shot is the inside out shot over cover’s against a left-arm spinner. I first played it when I was 12 years old.”  

During the conversation, Virat Kohli also shared insights into various aspects of his cricketing journey. When asked about his favourite opponents, he mentioned enjoying the battles against James Anderson and Pat Cummins. 

Additionally, he revealed that his lifelong idol is Sachin Tendulkar, while his current favorite cricketer is the versatile English all-rounder, Ben Stokes. 

Watch Full Interview Here:

The Asia Cup 2023 didn't kick off well for Virat Kohli, as he could only muster four runs in the opening clash against Pakistan while didn’t get to bat in the second match against Nepal. He will be making his next appearance on September 10 in Colombo against Pakistan, eager to stage a strong comeback.