Virat Kohli - Slaying all his inner demons

Any questions of his ability to adjust in the longer format were fiercely driven down the ground. He was arguably India’s best batsman in the debacle down under, and his admirable composure in a tricky situation against New Zealand in Bangalore ensured that he kept any existing competition at bay. VVS Laxman calling it a day meant that yet another spot had opened up in the Indian middle order. Competing with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina for that spot, he quickly showed that he was light years ahead of the pack, almost making a mockery of the chances of other hopefuls. Kohli had managed to resurrect his career, jumping up the ladder, more than just one step at a time. The endorsement deals came thick and fast, and Kohli had suddenly become the poster boy of Indian cricket. He magically transformed his image of a self-centred spoilt brat, to a potential India skipper.

There comes a moment in everyone’s life – a moment that makes or breaks a person. And if there ever was a life-defining event in Kohli’s career, it would have to be the death of his father in 2006. The sequence of events was utterly awe-inspiring. On December 18th, at the Feroze Shah Kotla, the Karnataka seamers had strangled Delhi and the game looked all but over for the home side who needed 143 to avoid the follow on, with Kohli being the only recognized batsman left. On the chilly morning of December 19th, Prem Kohli, Virat’s father and a prominent lawyer, died of a brain stroke. Precisely six hours later, at 9 am, eighteen year old Kohli was at the Kotla with his kit, and responded to his teammates’ suggestions of going back home with “I want to bat. It is what dad would have wanted me to do too.”

And bat he did. Slaying all his inner demons, he added 50 to his overnight score of 40, almost single-handedly rescuing Delhi from the dire straits they had gotten themselves into. Following a chanceless 200 balls, he walked back to the pavilion, only to be greeted by a stunned silence. Of all the demonstrations of Kohli’s mental strength, none come even faintly close to his display on that fateful Tuesday. Virat’s mother Saroj believes it is that very day that made him the batsman he is today. “Overnight he became a more mature person. It’s as if his life hinged totally on cricket after that day. He looked like he was chasing his father’s dream which was his own too.” she said. Clearly, Kohli opted for that moment to make him into what he is today.

Virat Kohli truly does represent the new legion of Indian batsmen – fearless, aggressive, audacious and staggeringly effective. Vivian Richards said in an interview that Kohli reminded him of himself, which is close to the biggest compliment any batsman can hope to receive. If Sir Viv is right – and since he generally is – we can calmly look into the horizon knowing that the future of Indian batting is in safe hands.