ISLAMABAD: Indian cricket star Virat Kohli has opened up about a defining moment from the early stages of his cricketing career, recalling how a tough encounter against Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy 2009 played a crucial role in shaping his path to becoming one of India’s cricketing greats.
Speaking candidly in an emotional interview on a podcast aired Tuesday, Kohli recounted the intense pressure he experienced after being drafted in at the last minute to replace the injured Yuvraj Singh.
At that point, Kohli was still relatively young and lacked experience at the international level.
In that match, he scored just 16 runs before being dismissed while attempting to loft Shahid Afridi over the top.
Caught at long-on, Kohli’s dismissal contributed to India’s 54-run defeat — a result that left him shattered.
“That was my first India-Pakistan game. I scored around 16 runs. I tried to hit Shahid Afridi for a six straight down the ground and ended up getting caught at long-on. We lost that match. It was a significant moment, and my heart was pounding throughout the innings. I couldn’t process what had happened over those four days,” he recalled.
Plunging into self-doubt
Kohli admitted that the disappointing performance plunged him into self-doubt. He feared he had missed a golden opportunity to cement his place on the Indian side.
“It was a heavy loss, and I simply couldn’t sleep. I stayed up until five in the morning, just staring at the ceiling. I kept thinking, ‘That’s it. I’ve been recalled after a year, and I’ve blown it. I don’t know how things will pan out from here.’ I had many such moments where I really questioned myself. I had to regroup and gradually rebuild my confidence,” he shared.
Despite the initial disappointment, Kohli described the experience as a key turning point in his career.
It instilled a steely resolve in him and helped him become one of India’s most dependable players, particularly in high-stakes matches against Pakistan.
Kohli also reflected on the positive influence of former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher during his formative years.
Boucher, who was part of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) during the 2008 IPL season, served as a mentor and played a vital role in guiding the young Kohli.
