The Surfer

'While playing for India, you need to be responsible' - Kohli

In an interview in the Telegraph , Virat Kohli talks about facing up to pressure, vice-captaincy, his best moments in his career thus far, and more.

Siddhartha Talya
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
In an interview in the Telegraph, Virat Kohli talks about facing up to pressure, vice-captaincy, his best moments in his career thus far, and more.
What has helped you perform better in the past couple of months?
During the first two Test matches (in Australia), I complicated my thought process… I think that was the only change, nothing else has changed before or after… Those two games (at the MCG and at the SCG), those 15-20 days, I didn’t even understand myself… I was just in a confused zone. But that can happen to a cricketer and it’s all about realising it as soon as possible and getting back on track. Luckily, I was able to do so in Perth.
The one moment or one word of advice or one thought which changed everything...
I think it’s very hard to ignore what is being said or done around you… How people are reacting to your not performing… But I took a strong stand. As soon as I reached Perth, I decided to make a fresh start… Just told myself to sideline all these things, that it’s going to be tough, that I would need a lot of discipline, that I have to channelise all my energies to what I want… I wanted to have a planned preparation and give myself the best chance to perform.

Siddhartha Talya is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo