'When Virat Kohli was young, he was soft-spoken' - Former India teammate reveals

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan has opened up on Virat Kohli’s remarkable journey, painting a vivid picture of how the former India captain transformed himself from a soft-spoken youngster into one of the most disciplined and driven cricketers of modern times.

Dhawan recalled first meeting Kohli when the latter was still a teenager. “When Virat was young, around 16–17 years old, he was a bit soft-spoken. Since I was the senior, he spent time with me. At that time, he was focused on food, but once on the field, he only wanted to score runs. He had a clear idea of his game and was always hungry for success,” Dhawan said on Raj Shamani's podcast.


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According to Dhawan, the tragic loss of Kohli’s father became a defining moment in shaping his temperament. “Unfortunately, when his father passed away, his zeal was already there, but his seriousness increased even more. I clearly remember the match when he came to play on the very day his father died and scored 95 runs. After that, he never looked back,” he added.

Dhawan also shed light on Kohli’s unwavering discipline, which he believes set him apart from the very beginning. “The discipline that Virat adopted helped him elevate himself very quickly. Even 10–15 years ago, he was already very disciplined and inspiring. Now, when I’ve become more disciplined myself, I realise that Virat has always been like that from the start,” Dhawan noted.

Kohli’s fitness transformation, Dhawan said, was a game-changer. “He has a strong mindset. Even if he gets out early, he immediately thinks about the next century. At first, he was a bit soft, but then he removed all the carbs, became very lean, and worked on his fitness. I feel he looked up to Cristiano Ronaldo and learned from him, adopting a similar lifestyle. His performance graph kept rising steadily,” he explained.


The left-hander credited Kohli’s mix of strict routines, fitness regimens, and mental toughness for his meteoric rise. “His discipline became very strong, with controlled eating, a positive mindset, and rigorous fitness. He worked a lot on mobility and power exercises, used the gym regularly, and kept enhancing himself. Of course, luck plays a part, but you must have both talent and discipline—and Virat combined both beautifully,” Dhawan said.

Catch Lovlina Borgohain's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 5. Watch Here