The RCB star batter Virat Kohli has spilled out words on his batting roles saying that he has never tried to overshadow anyone in the cricketing ecosystem.
Virat Kohli made a solid start in the ongoing IPL 2025 season, hitting two fifties in four matches. The 36-year-old has been the identity of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and led the charge in the lineup which flourished under the coaching of Andy Flower.
Speaking ahead of the games against Delhi Capitals, Virat Kohli reflected on the past few weeks of his career when he won the Champions Trophy and said that he has always tried to execute the role given to him by the team.
“If you look at how things panned out even recently, in one of the Champions Trophy games, Shreyas (Iyer) took charge. It was never about ego. At that time, if I was in rhythm, in the flow of the game, I naturally took the initiative.”
“If someone else was better placed to take the lead, they would do it. It was never about trying to overshadow anyone or suddenly feeling like I don’t have the ability. It’s always been about understanding the game situation – and that’s something I’ve always taken pride in. I want to play according to what the situation demands,” said Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli made an incredible run in the Champions Trophy, hitting a century vs Pakistan and a sensational knock against Australia in the semi finals of the tournament powering India’s win.
He also spoke about his early days in the Indian Premier League and how he felt out his depth for the first couple of seasons.
“The first time I played in the IPL, I was in complete awe. I hadn’t really met anyone before—except maybe Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh from our North Zone days – so walking into a dressing room with legends like Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid felt like fantasy land.”
“But with that excitement came pressure. I knew my game wasn’t quite at that level yet, and I had to prove myself. That pressure eventually caught up with me in the first season. Still, the experience was unforgettable,” Kohli said.
“In my first three years with Royal Challengers Bangalore, I didn’t get many opportunities to bat in the top order. I was usually sent in lower down. So, I wasn’t really able to crack the IPL in a big way early on, apart from the occasional impactful knock,” added Virat Kohli.
“But the 2009 season felt a bit better for me. The pitches that year suited my game—the ball was coming onto the bat nicely, and I could play my shots more freely. It was definitely an interesting phase in my career,” said Kohli.
“From 2010 onwards, I started performing more consistently, and by 2011, I was regularly batting at number three. That’s when my IPL journey really began to take shape,” he concluded.
Virat Kohli is currently playing under the leadership of Rajat Patidar in the IPL 2025. The batter is not anchoring through the innings like he used to be earlier and is rather focussing on batting aggressively.
RCB secured 3rd position in the IPL 2025 points table and will play their next game against Delhi Capitals on April 10 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
