Virat Kohli was passionate for cricket even as a little boy, says childhood coach

Virat Kohli has exhibited his astounding form in the on-going ICC World T20 here in India. The 27-year-old charismatic batsman from Delhi scored a couple of match-saving knocks against Pakistan and Australia in the group stage fixtures to propel the host nation to the semi-final round of the tournament.

Kohli scored an important knock of 82 from 51 balls for the side as most of the Indian batsmen failed to deliver in the crunch game against Australia.

The fact that the current Indian test skipper not only enjoys a difficult challenge but also thrives under one is a well-known fact in the world of cricket. However, in a recent interview given to Express, Virat Kohli's first cricket coach Rajkumar Sharma highlighted the Delhi batsman’s passion for the sport.

“Ever since childhood, he (Virat Kohli) was extremely passionate about the game. Even after a match, he would sit back and analyse what went wrong. He was always willing to learn from the mistakes,” Sharma told.

When asked about Kohli's temperament as a child, he added, “So what if he would bat at No. 4, Virat would always be ready. Even if he’s under pressure, he would never show. There have been times when he would insist on going in the middle and finish things off. He loves taking risks.”

In the recent past, a number of similarities have been highlighted between Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. Although, it is quite early to say whether the comparisons that have surfaced are justified or not, almost any cricket fan would agree upon one similarity between the two Indian cricketers – their ardour for the sport.

Having said that, whereas Rajkumar Sharma believes that his deep affection for the sport keeps Virat Kohli always motivated, former physio of the Indian cricket team, John Gloster is of the opinion that his mental strength has helped the 27-year-old Delhi man create a stir in world cricket, especially after the run-chase against Australia last Sunday.

Gloster told the press, “He is a fine athlete, who knows how to handle pressure. It’s not easy to field for long and then bat that aggressively because it takes a toll on your body. But Virat has proved all that wrong.”

“Virat knows how important his wicket is for the side. He has not only kept his fitness level at the peak but is also enjoying every moment. That’s showing in his batting,” the Australian physio concluded.