That top-order batsman Virat Kohli gave his explanation for walking away from leading India. Hailing from Delhi, he got nudged out of the T20I skipper job, then dropped as ODI captain too, making way for Rohit Sharma. Yet in Tests, board bosses stood by him. Still, he chose to leave right after a tour match down in South Africa near the start of 2022.
The old player explained why he stepped down, saying leading the team wore him out, inside and mind. India claimed 40 victories in 68 Test matches while he led, staying strong in ICC limited-overs events – making it to the 2017 Champions Trophy final and the 2019 World Cup semis. Still, beyond those numbers, Kohli felt the weight grow heavier each day, till nothing stayed for himself.
Truth is, I found myself right at the center of the team’s batting plans. Then came leading others – sort of slipped into that without planning. Honestly, had no clue how heavy that weight would feel each day. Still, wanting Indian cricket to stay strong kept me moving forward. That fire inside simply drowned out everything else. Nothing remained after I stepped down. That role drained every bit of me. It took over everything. Yes, it felt brutal, Kohli told the audience at Tuesday’s Indian Sports Summit hosted by RCB Innovation Lab.
Finding peace between personal standards and the weight of team outcomes grew harder, he said. Not every move answered the noise around him. Still, effort never faded. Pressure piled without warning. Balance slipped through fingers like sand.
“It was difficult to manage expectations of, okay, if you win, you don’t score runs, then, you’re asked about your performances. And if you perform and you don’t win, you’re asked about the results. So I was always juggling between the two and trying to manage as best as I could,” the 37-year-old said.
Dravid and Rathour Add Their Part
Back then, things hadn’t gone smoothly for Kohli in Tests through 2021 into 2022 – yet his comeback a year later turned heads. Help came quietly, behind the scenes, from Dravid and Rathour, who steadied his belief when it wavered.
“Rahul bhai and Vikram Rathour. I’ve said this many times. I had a great run in Test Cricket in 2023. Whenever I see them, whenever I meet them, I always thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.