'Virat Kohli ko chhod do, dusre bhai ko padha likha lo': The making of Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli led India to maiden Test series win in Australia on the 2018-19 tour (Agency Photo)

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NEW DELHI: A young Virat Kohli , just 12 years old, riding on the back of his father Prem Nath Kohli's scooter with his kit bag perched on the front, is an image that former India cricketer Atul Wassan will always remember. Wassan, who had represented India in four Tests and nine ODIs, was at his friend Rajkumar Sharma's academy in Paschim Vihar, Delhi. It was a Sunday morning, years ago, when a chubby-cheeked Virat arrived with his father and brother, Vikas.Like every other student, Virat and his brother were asked to pad up and face a few deliveries. One shot, then another, and another. After about ten shots, Wassan and Rajkumar exchanged a glance and jokingly said, “Virat Kohli ko chhod do, dusre bhai ko padha likha lo [Leave Virat here, focus on educating the other brother]."Little did they know that moment marked the beginning of Virat's journey to greatness, and Wassan would soon take the reins to nurture this talented young cricketer.Eight years after their first meeting, Wassan chose Virat to represent Delhi in a Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu at home in 2006. And over time, that 12-year-old kid evolved into a legend of the game.“I do remember him clearly. He came to our academy with Rajkumar and me when he was just 12 years old. I still recall that moment. Even back then, he had something special. However, we never imagined he’d reach such incredible heights. No one could predict it," Wassan told TimesofIndia.com."I remember the first time I toured with Sachin Tendulkar; he was 16. Virat was also special, but even with talent, no one can guarantee success. Many factors have to fall into place. The genius lies in maintaining focus and consistently taking the next step. Just having talent isn’t enough. Many have talent, but to sustain it, to evolve, and to remain grounded amid commercialisation, while excelling in all formats, with different pressures — it's rare. When everything falls into place, you get talents like Tendulkar and Virat,” he said.“Rajkumar first spotted this boy. He insisted and said ‘no, you must come and see this kid.’ So, I agreed. When I saw him, I knew there was something special about him. It’s hard to explain, but you can just tell when someone has the ‘X-factor.’ His brother and father came too. He said, ‘Just wait for a minute,’ and that’s when we knew he had potential,” Wassan said.After India clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 title, Virat announced his retirement almost immediately. However, his decision to retire from Test cricket left fans heartbroken, particularly as he was expected to play in England."I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way," Virat wrote on Instagram.Yes, the Baggy Blue #269 will no longer grace the field.Virat concluded his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties. He finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer for India, behind Sachin Tendulkar , Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar."He’s played and conquered the game, and now he’s enjoying his IPL career, staying supremely fit. Test cricket, though, demands a lot mentally and physically, and not everyone has the mindset to endure that. Virat understands that. He wants to enjoy life and has nothing more to prove. He’ll keep playing IPL and maybe even aim for the Olympics. He wants to play the Olympics. Ultimately, a player knows himself better than anyone else," Wassan said.“People keep talking about the 700-800 runs he needs for 10,000 runs, but that number doesn’t define Virat. Even if he never gets there, his impact on the game is undeniable. Players like (Matthew) Hayden and (Adam) Gilchrist changed the way cricket is played, and Virat has done the same in his own way. Now, with a family of two kids, I think he’s realised he’s achieved everything," the former cricketer said.What started as the era of "Sachin! Sachin!" eventually transformed into the "Virat! Virat!" era.

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