In a captivating episode of PUMA’s ‘Let There Be Sport’ documentary series, cricketing legend Virat Kohli, known for his indomitable spirit and fierce leadership, made a heartfelt admission, acknowledging the mistakes he made during his tenure as captain of the Indian cricket team. Kohli’s candid confession came amidst the backdrop of immense scrutiny he faced for not clinching an ICC trophy during his captaincy reign.
Virat Kohli: A Players’ Captain
While steering India to historic victories in bilateral series, Kohli’s failure to secure an international cricketing title drew considerable criticism. Nevertheless, the iconic batsman, who spearheaded a fitness revolution in Indian cricket team, achieved remarkable milestones in the red-ball format, including a historic Test series win on Australian soil. Under Kohli’s astute leadership, the Asian giants played an aggressive brand of cricket, earning praise and adoration.
However, following the 2021 T20 World Cup, Kohli voluntarily stepped down as the captain of the Indian T20I squad. Subsequently, he was also relieved of his duties as the ODI skipper as selectors sought to consolidate leadership across white-ball formats. Kohli’s decision to relinquish the Test captaincy arrived in early 2022, post the South Africa tour, marking the end of an illustrious era.
Kohli acknowledges his mistakes
During the poignant documentary episode, Kohli bared his soul, expressing his unwavering commitment to the team’s cause. “Hundred percent. So I have no shame in accepting that I have made many mistakes when I was the captain. But the one thing I know, for sure that I never did anything for my own selfish motives that I can take guarantee of that from the one to the last day. I have not done anything for myself. I just had one goal to take the team ahead.”, Kohli revealed.
With a remarkable display of vulnerability, Kohli wholeheartedly acknowledged the fallibility inherent in the game. “I can totally accept if I have taken the decisions correctly or not. I can totally accept it you make mistakes like you make errors when you get out, that’s a failure. Failures will keep happening but the intent was never in the wrong please. So I can absolutely take guarantee of that. Till that is in its right place, you will make mistakes, but you will learn from that as I said, you will not then start shining away from making things.”, Kohli further added.
Virat Kohli’s emotional admission in the Let There Be Sport documentary series touched the hearts of fans worldwide. His sincerity and passion for the game, coupled with his tireless efforts to lead by example, have solidified his legacy as an exceptional sportsman. As Kohli continues to evolve both as a player and as an individual, cricket enthusiasts eagerly await his forthcoming exploits, confident in the knowledge that his unwavering commitment to the team’s success remains resolute.
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