In this series, we are going to be looking at some of the top athletes in their sports and the journey they took to get there. The series will also consider their top achievements and success outside of their athletic journeys. This article will be looking at Indian cricket superstar, Virat Kohli.
Virat Kohli is widely recognised as one of India’s best cricket players. Whilst being able to bowl, his talents are with the bat. He is consistently able to smash runs for his teams and play any shot imaginable. He is regarded as being one of the best score chasers in the game.
Cricketing fans first noticed Kohli back in 2008 when he was able to capture the U19 cricket world cup in Malaysia. This achievement propelled him into the Indian T2O league, where he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore, a franchise that he still plays for today. His performances for the team earned him a spot in the Indian national teams as well the privilege of captaining the squad.
Following the retirement of MS Donhi’s test match career in 2014, Kohli was appointed as India’s cricket captain. Despite his career still not being over, he is already India’s most successful captain, having amassed a total of 96 wins across all cricket formats. He is the first Indian captain to win 9 test matches in a year.
On a personal level, he has achieved some incredible feats. The list of his achievements is extensive, so here are a few of his most impressive. He is the holder of the fastest half-century in the IPL, scoring 50 in just 21 balls. He is among the fastest players to reach run records of 1000-5000 in ODI matches. He is the first-ever Indian player to score a century on his world cup debut.
So, what has allowed Virat Kohli to become such an extraordinary player? The first thing is his dedication and work ethic. Outside of his cricket training, Kohli spends up to 4 hours a day working on himself to ensure he is in top physical condition. He also has the willpower and commitment to stick to a strict diet of lean meats and vegetables.
As well as physical ability, a mental determination is also hugely important. Kohli is someone that has developed a strong mindset that allows him to be both a player and a leader. He is not one to shy away from a challenge and when the game is on the line, Kohli wants to be the man determining the outcome of the match. All these mental and physical factors are what have made Kohli so dominant in the cricketing world.
While Kohli has resigned as Indian T20 cricket captain, he surely has much more cricket to play. He is a shining example for young players as to what hard work and dedication can do for a sporting career.
