Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen was convinced that India’s talisman Virat Kohli was ‘destined for greatness’ during the early IPL stints he had with the Indian captain while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Pietersen revealed he was able to predict the same after noticing how Kohli approached the game and the right questions he asked, while still being young in his career.
Virat Kohli would then go on to prove Pietersen right as he is currently the best batsman in all the three forms of the game. King Kohli, as he is famously known, is the only batter who has an average of more than 50 in all the three versions of the game. The right-hander has already amassed more than 21,000 International runs and has 70 centuries under his belt. Ergo, Kohli has been able to tick all the right boxes in his career thus far.
‘Sitting on the bus with Virat and batting with Virat, I knew he was destined for greatness because of how he approached the game and the way he learnt and the questions he asked,’ Pietersen told Betway.
Pietersen also recalled the fact that Kohli was a bit on chubby side and he still pulls his leg for the same. However, Kohli then went on to transform himself and is one of the fittest players in the world.
‘He was a chubby little fella back then and I still take the mickey out of him for it. But his determination to be the best player he could possibly be was evident.
The former flamboyant England batsman added that Kohli always had the hunger in himself and he would never throw his wicket away. Pietersen and Kohli share a great bonhomie with each other. The former also recalled one instance when Kohli was the culprit in getting Pietersen run-out.
‘I remember I was winning a game for us against Rajasthan Royals and he ran me out. I gave him an absolute serve walking off the field. But you could see this was a youngster who was determined to get his team over the line.
‘He wasn’t just going to give his wicket away and it didn’t matter how many Tests I’d played or how much more senior I was. We do have an incredible friendship, probably because of the way I treated him when he was a youngster and how I helped and guided him at the start of his career.’
Virat Kohli has taken massive strides in his illustrious career. Kohli is the best batsman when it comes to chasing down the target and his numbers are a testimony of the same. The Indian captain has worked hard on his game as well as his fitness to reap fruits at the topmost level. Kohli is at the pinnacle of his career and he would like to continue the same.
Meanwhile, Kohli was not in the best of forms on the New Zealand tour and he would aim to get back in touch in the ODI series against South Africa. Kohli will later lead Royal Challengers Bangalore in the upcoming 13th season of the IPL.
Written by: Gautam Chauhan
