Top 5 lessons to learn from Virat Kohli's career

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli, a renowned cricketer who started his career during Sachin Tendulkar's era, has retired from T20 International cricket after leading India to victory in the ICC T20 Cricket

World Cup

in Barbados. Kohli's cricket journey earned him a massive following, not only for his on-field performances but also for his appearance, as many considered him the most stylish Indian batter.

Once known for his visible aggression on the cricket field, Kohli has shown a significant shift in approach over the years. This more balanced perspective has made him a role model for millions of fans. His pursuit of excellence has highlighted the importance of discipline and fitness, not only within sports but also in everyday life. This shift reflects a broader cultural movement toward healthier, more disciplined lifestyles inspired by Kohli’s example.
Kohli took over the Indian team captaincy from MS Dhoni, who had won all three ICC white-ball tournaments. Kohli’s rise to captaincy began in 2014 when he was appointed Test captain during a series against Australia. Notably, in his first match as captain, he scored a century in both innings in Adelaide.
In 2017, Kohli became the full-time captain of India's white-ball cricket team, succeeding Dhoni. Under his leadership, the team reached the finals of the Champions Trophy and the semi-final of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, although they did not secure the titles.

Here are top five lessons to take from Virat Kohli:
1. Respect the opportunity life gives you:
During the post-match presentation of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, Virat Kohli was overwhelmed with emotion and he said, " Apna sar neeche rakhke, opportunity ki izzat karke hi aage badha jaa sakta hai" which translates to 'One can only move forward by keeping their head down and respecting opportunities.'
Virat Kohli entered the 2024 T20 World Cup after winning the IPL Orange Cap, leading to high expectations from fans globally. During the IPL, his gameplay showed a shift as he adopted a more aggressive approach from the start.

Despite his excellent form, Kohli faced a challenging T20 World Cup. He managed to score 156 runs in total, with 76 runs coming in the final match. The team gave him a crucial opportunity, and he delivered when it mattered the most.
2. Trust God's plan:
During an interview with Sky Sports, Kohli told, "God has a plan for everyone and I never doubt God's plan"
Virat Kohli's cricket career has seen significant achievements and changes. He first gained attention after leading India to victory in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in 2008. He continued to build on this success by playing a key role in India's 2011 ODI World Cup win, alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh. Notably, Kohli scored a century in his first match of the tournament.
In 2013, Kohli added another significant achievement by winning the Champions Trophy with teammates Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Ravindra Jadeja under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.

Though Kohli won two Player of the Tournament awards in T20 World Cups and once in an ODI World Cup, he did not secure another major trophy until 2024. In his final T20 International match, Kohli was named Player of the Match, and India won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
This victory placed Kohli among the list of Indian cricketers who have won all three white-ball ICC tournaments.
3. Work hard and make a come back
During an online interview with Graham Bensinger, Virat said "Every time I hit rock bottom, somehow I was able to put everything aside and say Right, I am going to work hard and I'm going to get back up"
During the COVID-19 era, Virat Kohli faced a tough period in his cricket career, experiencing a long wait to score an international century. It took Kohli 1020 days and 83 innings to break this dry spell, which stood in stark contrast to his earlier record of 70 international centuries.
During this period, Kohli's captaincy was handed over to Rohit Sharma. Sharma went on to lead the team to victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite many cricket pundits ruling Kohli out of their teams, Kohli continued to work hard.
Virat Kohli made a notable comeback during the 2022 T20 Cricket World Cup. In a match against Pakistan, India was struggling at 31 runs for 4 wickets after the powerplay while chasing 159. Kohli played a crucial innings, scoring 82 runs in 53 balls. With India needing 28 runs in 8 balls, Kohli was on strike and led his team to victory.
4. Take risks
During an interview for Puma, Virat said, "You have to take risks, yeah there is nothing calls safe option". Virat suggested that its important to take risks in life as there are no safe options in life.
Virat Kohli, known for his strategic gameplay of initially rotating the strike and adapting to the pitch, has changed his approach. Kohli has started attacking bowlers from the first ball, opting for more aggressive and aerial shots. This shift marks a significant change in his batting style.
Kohli previously focused on assessing the pitch before playing big shots, but now he takes calculated risks from the beginning of his innings. This new strategy highlights his evolving game and adaptability in cricket.
5. The night is darkest just before dawn
Virat said in the post-match presentation of the T20 World Cup final, " I wasn't very confident in the last few games. I wasn't feeling really good out there but when God has to bless you with something, he shows you in way that you can't imagine. Thats why i said, i'm really grateful and humbled"
Virat Kohli had an outstanding performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He became the first person to score 50 ODI centuries, breaking the record previously held by Sachin Tendulkar. Kohli accumulated 765 runs in 11 innings and maintained an impressive average of 95.62.

India's team had an incredible run with ten consecutive wins, but they lost the final match to Australia. The defeat was a disappointment and affected the nation's cricketing spirit, which was later restored after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup.