When Virat Kohli almost ate cockroaches, went without sleep for 28 hours

Virat Kohli celebrating the U-19 World Cup Trophy win in Malaysia, 2008

Virat Kohli is a distinct character, on as well as off the cricket field, and some recent anecdotes he shared just prove that – he once almost ate a plate of fried cockroaches in Malaysia; he once went 28 hours without sleep.

Talking to fans in a jovial mood in a mall in Mumbai where he was promoting his clothing line ‘Wrogn’, Kohli disclosed several funny stories – something which MS Dhoni is known to do when interacting with media. He was replying to fan question at Inorbit Mall in Malad, according to Cricket Country.

Kohli said that while in Malaysia, he had picked up cockroaches to eat, thinking that it was some kind of pickle, when he was warned by somebody that what he was holding in his hands was actually the insect.

Kohli captained India Under-19s to victory at the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, and it is likely, but unconfirmed, that his misadventure with food occurred while on this international mission.

Kohli is on a high after leading India to two prestigious Test series wins, against Sri Lanka and South Africa, but has raised a storm more recently by claiming that nobody who has not played for the country has a right to comment on the actions of those who have.

Kohli has always had a frosty relation with the media, who have come down hard on his unsubtle ways, and his recent interaction is another sign that he is following in his predecessor MS Dhoni’s footsteps, in entertaining fans and media with joviality.