India great Virat Kohli has opened up on the mental and physical toll of captaining the national side, saying he was 'completely spent' by the time he stepped down from leadership roles between 2021 and 2022. Speaking at the third edition of the RCB Innovation Lab's Indian Sports Summit on Tuesday, Kohli described the experience as 'gruesome' and explained how the dual burden of being the team's primary batsman and captain eventually drained him.
Kohli, who remains India's most successful Test captain with 40 wins in 68 matches, led the side to historic overseas Test victories in Australia, England, and South Africa, as well as regular knockout appearances in ICC white-ball tournaments, including the 2017 Champions Trophy final and the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final. However, the former skipper revealed that the constant pressure to perform both individually and collectively took a heavy toll.
'I ended up being in a place where I became the focal point of our batting unit. And then I became the focal point of leadership. I didn't realise how much of a load both those things will present in my daily life, to be honest. But because I was so driven and motivated to just make sure that Indian cricket stays on top, I didn't really pay attention to it. And that's precisely why by the time I left captaincy, I was completely spent. Like there was nothing left in the tank to give. And I was completely consumed by it. So, yes, it was gruesome,' Kohli said.
Kohli also spoke about the constant juggling of personal form with team results during his captaincy stint. 'It was difficult to manage expectations of, okay, if you win, you don't score runs, then, you're asked about your performances. And if you perform and you don't win, you're asked about the results. So I was always juggling between the two and trying to manage as best as I could,' he stated.
The 37-year-old credited former India head coach Rahul Dravid and former batting coach Vikram Rathour for helping him during a particularly difficult phase in Test cricket. After dominating Test cricket between 2016 and 2019, Kohli endured a lean run in 2021 and 2022, averaging just 28.21 and 26.5 respectively. He bounced back strongly in 2023 with 671 runs in eight Tests at an average of 55.91.
'Rahul bhai and Vikram Rathour. I've said this many times. I had a great run in Test Cricket in 2023. Whenever I see them, whenever I meet them, I always thank them from the bottom of my heart. Because they really took care of me in a way that made me feel like… 'I want to play for them. I want to perform. I want to go out there. I want to grind it out. I want to do the hard work for them'. Because they were so caring and nurturing. And they made me realise what I have done so far. Like, even if I go to the nets today, I feel at this stage, like these youngsters are watching. And if I have bad nets in the next session, they're going to be like… 'This is the guy who's been playing for 20 years'. So that's always at the back of your mind. Like, you have to keep up with your own standards,' Kohli added.
He went on to praise the understanding shown by Dravid and Rathour about the mental side of elite cricket. 'So, they understood that. Because Rahul bhai, of course, has done that way better than a lot of people in Test Cricket at the highest level. Vikram Rathour has been around for so many years. So they understood what I was feeling. And they could relate to it. And they really took care of me mentally,' Kohli said.
Kohli's captaincy legacy
Kohli took over the Test captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2014 and the limited-overs captaincy in 2017. Under his leadership, India reached No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings and won the Test series in Australia in 2018-19, becoming the first Asian team to do so. He also led India to the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021. In ODIs, India reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup and the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy. In T20Is, Kohli captained India to the semi-finals of the 2021 T20 World Cup. His captaincy was marked by an aggressive, fitness-oriented culture that transformed Indian cricket.
The burden of expectations
The former skipper's remarks highlight the immense pressure that comes with being the face of Indian cricket. As a batsman, Kohli has amassed over 25,000 international runs, including 80 centuries, making him one of the greatest batsmen of all time. Balancing that individual brilliance with the responsibility of leading a billion people's hopes took a significant toll. Kohli's honest admission provides a rare glimpse into the mental health challenges faced by elite athletes, especially in a cricket-crazy nation like India.
Kohli's decision to step down from captaincy allowed him to focus purely on his batting, and he has since produced some memorable innings, including a century in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. His resurgence in Test cricket in 2023 was a testament to his ability to adapt and overcome adversity. The support from Dravid and Rathour during that period was crucial, as Kohli himself acknowledged.
A lasting impact
Kohli's influence on Indian cricket extends beyond his captaincy record. He redefined fitness standards, introduced a no-compromise attitude on the field, and inspired a generation of cricketers to dream big. His legacy as a leader will be remembered for the passion and intensity he brought to the role. As Kohli continues his playing career, his insights into the challenges of captaincy will serve as valuable lessons for future leaders in the sport.
The RCB Innovation Lab's Indian Sports Summit, where Kohli made these remarks, is an initiative aimed at exploring the intersection of sports, technology, and innovation. Kohli's candid discussion about his captaincy experience was one of the highlighted sessions of the event, drawing attention from fans and experts alike.
Source: Yahoo Sports News