Ajinkya Rahane opens up on Kohli's attitude (Source: @ImTanujSingh/x.com, @YelloveVersions/x.com)
Over more than a decade, it has been an absolute treat to watch Virat Kohli bat. The moment he walks in, records fall later, but fans are first spellbound by the sheer aura he brings to the crease.
At times, the world mistook Kohli’s fiery aura for arrogance and judged him too quickly. But in a recent interaction, veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane revealed the big secret about it.
Ajinkya Rahane clears the air on Virat Kohli’s attitude
After Sachin Tendulkar stepped away from Indian cricket, the nation was searching for his true successor, and then Virat Kohli arrived. Loaded with unreal brilliance and unimaginable talent, he became much more than just Tendulkar’s successor and carved his own legacy. From redefining India’s Test mindset to injecting fearless aggression and a never-die attitude, he became one of the chief architects of modern Indian cricket.
Virat's aggression set him apart, but that same fire often dragged him into controversy as the world branded him arrogant. Is that label even fair? Speaking to Cricbuzz, his teammate Ajinkya Rahane uncovered a whole different side of King Kohli as he said the attitude is all about a never-giving-up mindset.
“However much we talk about Virat Kohli is never enough. But I have seen him very closely, how he goes about his batting. We talk about his passion and his intent each and every time. But I feel what stands out is his attitude - the attitude of learning, the attitude of never giving up. People outside think Virat is arrogant, but he is not. He gets into the zone,” he said.
Rahane reveals the hidden prep that sets Kohli apart
As fans across the globe remained in awe of Kohli’s batting brilliance, the real magic lies in his intense preparation. Reflecting on Virat Kohli’s intense preparation before a game, Ajinkya Rahane revealed striking details that often go unnoticed. From cutting off conversations to fully locking into his zone, the former Indian captain leaves nothing to chance before stepping onto the 22 yards.
“I saw him two days before the game. He'll hardly talk to people, even to his teammates. That's what actually gets him into the zone. He'll always wear his AirPods or try and listen to whatever he wants to and what he likes to get into the zone,” he said.
“Initially, it took all the players a little bit of time - why is he doing that? But then I got to know that he's actually getting into the zone by not talking to the players or anyone,” he added.
Kohli is making the bat talk again
Since the beginning of his career, whenever doubt was put on Virat Kohli’s form, the veteran Indian batter let his bat do the talking. After taking retirement from the Test and T20I format, when buzz erupted about his ODI form, King Kohli followed the same path, as the world is watching his brilliance once again.
After raising his bat high in the ODI series against South Africa, Virat followed it up with an iconic 93 in the first ODI against New Zealand, falling agonisingly short of a century by just seven runs. After India registered a thrilling victory, the world is eagerly waiting for another outstanding knock from the great in the upcoming clash.
