India captain Rohit Sharma has praised the veteran Indian batsman Virat Kohli, highlighting the abundance of lessons that can be learned from the former India captain, both on and off the field.
Two of the most outstanding batsmen in the modern era, Kohli and Rohit, have consistently delivered remarkable performances for the Men In Blue across various formats. Following their instrumental roles in leading India to the final of the 50-over World Cup in 2023, both players returned to the shortest format in the T20 World Cup year. Kohli, who was unavailable for the first two Tests against England due to personal reasons, received accolades from his teammate Rohit for his exemplary work ethic.
Rohit Sharma Wants Youngsters To Learn Passion From Virat Kohli
Rohit highlighted that he had never observed Kohli visiting the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for rehabilitation after an injury. Extending high praise for his teammate, the veteran Indian opener expressed his desire for younger players to draw inspiration from Kohli’s dedication and commitment.
In a conversation with Dinesh Karthik on Jio Cinema, Sharma discussed Kohli’s brilliance and emphasized the valuable insights that younger players could glean from one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game. Rohit said:
“Virat Kohli has never been to NCA in his entire career. I would say that all the younger players should look up to the passion that he has. Leave alone how he plays the cover drive, flick, cut but first things first you have to understand what is the quality of the players that makes him where he is today,”
He added: “I have watched Kohli enough. He can easily be satisfied with what he has achieved. He can say that I will take it easy in these 2-3 series, I will come later, but he is always there for the team. That mindset of being hungry and not complacent cannot be taught. You have to learn that from by looking at the others. It has to come from within. I cannot teach you that,”
Kohli was last seen playing for India during the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Although the 35-year-old joined the team in Hyderabad for the first Test against England, he did not participate in India’s optional training session on Monday. Subsequently, Kohli decided to withdraw from the first two Tests against England. In response to Kohli’s absence, India included top-order batsman Rajat Patidar in the squad for the initial two Tests of the series.
Kohli arrived in Hyderabad for the first Test against England. However, he did not attend India’s optional training session on Monday, and before the match, the batting icon decided to skip the first two Tests against England. Following Kohli’s brief exit, India added premier batter Rajat Patidar to its squad for the first two Tests of the series. Rohit said:
“That is the first thing that I would say rather than looking at Virat Kohli or others technically. You have to stay hungry all the time, bring the passion and the pride to everything, being out there in the sun, playing for the team and getting the job done. This is what I want to the guys to have first,”
Rohit Sharma said “Pope played one of the best knocks ever by an overseas player in India”. pic.twitter.com/YFEjS4dzOx
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 28, 2024
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