New Delhi: Virat Kohli stepped down from his leadership roles with the Indian national team and Royal Challengers Bangalore due to the overwhelming pressure and scrutiny he faced over nearly a decade. He cited the constant demands of captaincy and the intense public expectation of his batting performance as factors contributing to his decision to prioritize his well-being and happiness. The cumulative weight of these responsibilities, spanning seven to eight years with India and nine years with RCB, ultimately became unsustainable.
Kohli admits the constant pressure of captaincy and intense media scrutiny took a significant toll on his well-being, leading to burnout and a period of unhappiness. He even took a month-long break from cricket in 2022 to address the issue.
“I decided to step down because I realized that in order to be in this position, I needed to be happy with my decision and where I was.”
“I needed a space in my life where I could just focus on playing my cricket without the pressure of being judged, without constantly being questioned about what I’ll do this season and what will happen next,” said Kohli, who has been with RCB since the first season of IPL.
Leading India to the Under-19 World Cup title doesn’t automatically guarantee a smooth transition to the senior team, and Kohli credited his determination, along with the support of then-captain MS Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten, for helping him secure the No. 3 batting spot in the senior side.
“I was very realistic about my abilities. Having seen many other players, I didn’t feel my game was anywhere near theirs. The one thing I had was determination, and if I wanted to help my team win, I was ready to do whatever it took,” Kohli said.
“That was the very reason I got chances to play for India initially. Gary (Kirsten) and MS (Dhoni) made it clear to me that we are backing you to play at number three,” Kohli said. He added that both Kirsten and Dhoni encouraged him to play his natural game, trusting that his fighting spirit would always shine through on the field.
Kohli shared, “This is what you can do for the team. What you represent on the field, your energy, your engagement, is of the biggest value to us. We want you to play that way.” He acknowledged that he was never seen as the player who could win matches single-handedly, but rather as someone who would always stay in the fight. “I’m not going to give up, and that is what they backed,” he said.
He also reflected on the importance of nervous energy in cricket. “No matter how many runs one scores, that nervous energy keeps a player in competitive mode,” Kohli explained. He added that when you’re young, you think that once you’ve scored a certain number of runs, things will get easier. “It never happens like that. And that’s the marker actually. When you stop feeling that nervousness or anticipation is when people say you’re done,” he noted.
“For me, that never goes away because that very energy is what keeps you engaged, doing what you need to do in the present moment.”
