‘No one’s really asked me this question ever’
NEW DELHI: For many athletes across Indian sport, Virat Kohli represents the ultimate standard of discipline, intensity and relentless ambition. From young cricketers to Olympic champions, Kohli’s mindset and drive have often been looked at as the blueprint for success at the highest level.
But at the recent RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru, the former India captain offered a rare glimpse into what it actually takes to maintain those standards year after year, and the emotional cost that comes with it.
Opening up on burnout, pressure and emotional exhaustion, Kohli admitted that the constant responsibility of staying at the top eventually caught up with him, even if he did not fully recognise it at the time.
“Actually, no one’s really asked me this question ever. Basically, I ended up being in a place where I didn’t realize how often no one presented in my daily life, to be honest,” Kohli said during the conversation.
Despite carrying the same intensity and discipline that defined his career, Kohli acknowledged that years of leadership, responsibility and expectation slowly pushed him into emotional exhaustion.
“But because I was so driven and motivated to make sure that everything stayed on course, and as I say, my partner and I kept the absolute peak expectations. Yes, I could lose the manual expectations of the things.” he added.
Kohli also credited former India coaches Ravi Shastri, Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour for helping him navigate difficult phases throughout his career.
For an athlete whose public identity has long revolved around intensity and competitiveness, the honesty stood out. Kohli explained that the pressure was never just about scoring runs, it was about maintaining standards, carrying expectations and driving the culture of the team forward.
“I wanted to do well for them. To be able to take responsibility and maintain a culture of what’s great and what’s not,” Kohli said.
His comments also shed new light on the lean patch between 2020 and 2022, a period when discussions around Kohli largely focused on technical flaws and declining numbers. Instead, the former skipper hinted that emotional fatigue and mental burnout were at the centre of that difficult phase.
What made Kohli’s reflections particularly powerful was his perspective on recovery and self-awareness.
“Every step that we took, thankfully, I’ve been able to be at my own best. It actually takes control of yourself. And that’s what he said, I feel I have.
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru gear up for the IPL 2026 playoffs, Kohli’s evolving outlook around mental conditioning, emotional awareness and leadership has become an important part of the team’s culture this season.
Indian badminton star PV Sindhu also shared an emotional tribute to Kohli after meeting him at the summit.
Posting a picture with the former India captain on Instagram, the two-time Olympic medallist praised Kohli for always being supportive and approachable whenever she needed advice.
“Every time I’ve needed guidance, you’ve always been there with the right advice and the right words. There is no better example of what a true senior in Indian sport should be: generous, grounded, inspiring, and always willing to lift others,” Sindhu wrote.
She also revealed Kohli’s message to her: “Never back down, PV.”
“Advice taken. Keep being the absolute force of a human being that you are. Indian sport is better because of people like you,” she added.
Sindhu has gradually regained momentum this season after battling injuries over the past year, while Kohli continues to play a key role in RCB’s IPL 2026 campaign both on and off the field through leadership and mentorship initiatives.
Agencies