RCB talisman Virat Kohli: Keeping the faith through heartbreaks

Ahmedabad: When PBKS batter Shashank Singh smote Josh Hazlewood’s last ball for a six, even their coach Ricky Ponting wasn’t sure of its impact. Because all eyes were instead on one team and one man in particular — RCB’s Virat Kohli.

The man who gave his “youth, prime and experience” to the Bengaluru franchise sank to his knees, with his face to the ground. It didn’t take long for his teammates to join him. And when Kohli finally looked up, a bagful of emotions writ large on his face, the RCB fandom heaved a sigh of relief.


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Kohli’s feelings were understandable. No one else in the team has seen as many heartbreaks as the former captain, who has played four finals and stuck with the franchise since 2008. Kohli took the first three seasons to warm up in the company of illustrious players like Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Kevin Pietersen. Kohli grew with the franchise and its fandom. The 2011 season, when he scored 557 runs, marked a turnaround. It was only fitting, then, that apart from his current teammates, Kohli shared the spotlight with two men who shared his pain and disappointment — Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers lifted the trophy with him.

Speaking to the official broadcaster, Kohli later said, “Sharing this moment with AB and Chris means everything to me. I spent my prime years playing alongside them.


“We tried so hard, came so close, and had such an explosive team back then — but we could never cross the line. That hurt stays with you, because we gave everything to this franchise. This win feels 10 times more special because those two are standing next to me. It’s as much theirs as it is mine.”


With the IPL trophy, Kohli may have ticked another box, but he was quick to underline the value of Test cricket, from which he recently retired. “This moment is right up there with the best moments I’ve had in my career. But it still marks five levels under Test cricket.

Who's that IPL player?
That’s how much I value Test cricket. And that’s how much I love Test cricket. “I’d urge youngsters coming through to treat that format with respect, because if you perform in Test cricket, you walk around anywhere in the world, people look you in the eye and shake your hand and say, well done, you played the game really well. So, if you want to earn respect in world cricket, take up Test cricket, give your heart and soul to it.”

Kohli’s words were endorsed by Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting, who said, “I understand that. I’m probably one of the biggest purists of the game that is still involved in the game. Whether I’m coaching or commentating, my first love is Test cricket.”

Virat Kohli's IPL peaks

• 1 - Virat Kohli is the onlybatter to score 1000-plus runs against fouropponents — PBKS, CSK,DC & KKR. Both DavidWarner & Rohit Sharmahave achieved the featagainst two opponents.
• 1159 - Kohli’s run-aggregateagainst Punjab Kings isa record by a batteragainst any opponentin the IPL.
• 5 -Times Kohli has scored600-plus runs in an IPL season, a record.
• 973 - Kohli’s run aggregate atan averageof 81.08, including fourhundreds & seven fifties in16 innings in 2016, a recordfor an IPL season.
• 8661 - His runstallyat anaverage of 39.54, includingeight hundreds & 63 fiftiesin 259 innings, is a record.Kohli is the only batter toaggregate 8000-plus runs,a feat unlikely to besurpassed.
• 4789 - His run-aggregate at 49.88,including five hundreds& 36 fifties in 125 inningsin winning causes isa record.
• 71 - His scoresof 50-plus - 8hundreds & 63fifties — is the most inthe IPL.

- Stats by Rajesh Kumar