Apart from being one of the batting greats, Virat Kohli, as India’s Test captain, was remarkable, as his unmatched determination and elevated expectations, especially during tours to SENA countries—South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia—made him one of the most successful leaders.
Under his captaincy, the Indian cricket team’s performance in overseas conditions has seen a lot of success, including historic moments like India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia during the 2018-19 season.
Varun Dhawan reveals the human side of Virat Kohli
However, the road to glory was not without its share of heartbreak. The summer of 2018 was a tough test for Virat Kohli, both as a batter and captain, as his Indian Test team faced a demoralizing 1-4 defeat against England.
Behind the scenes, the pressure of leadership and personal expectations took a toll on the former Indian captain. Recently, Bollywood actor and one of the close friends of Anushka Sharma, Varun Dhawan, shared a glimpse into Kohli’s emotional struggles and vulnerable moments on that England tour.
He revealed that after the Birmingham Test, Anushka found the Indian batting icon badly crying in his room, reflecting the weight of leadership and the personal toll of setbacks. Varun Dhawan shared a heartfelt story about Virat Kohli, shedding light on Kohli’s emotional depth and intense commitment to the game and the weight of responsibility he carried.
Varun Dhawan reveals Virat Kohli’s emotional struggles during 2018 England Test Series
Actually, Dhawan recalled insights from Anushka Sharma about the batting icon’s mindset during one of the toughest phases in his career. The Bollywood actor recalled the Edgbaston Test against England in Birmingham, where Kohli scored 149 in the first innings and followed that up with a top-scoring 51 in the chase, but India fell agonizingly short by 31 runs.
Varun Dhawan recalled that after the game, Anushka Sharma returned to their room only to find Kohli deeply affected, lying down and crying, as he was holding himself accountable for the loss as the captain. This anecdote sheds light on the human side of a cricketing icon, Kohli, who is known for his fierce determination and aggressiveness on the field.
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Anushka Sharma didn’t know where Virat Kohli was: Varun Dhawan
Varun Dhawan said on Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast, ‘The Ranveer Show’: “Virat, I mean, everything he’s been through, the times he’s not been in good form, some insights that Anushka shared with me about his mindset.
“I think it was a Nottingham Test. Where India had lost, and she said she didn’t attend that game that day. She came back; she didn’t know where Virat was, and she came to the room and saw him laid down, literally crying. How he took the whole thing on himself, like I failed, when he was still the highest scorer that day. He was the captain of the side.”
Guess he’s talking about the Edgbaston test 2018. Or maybe from 2021 Eng tour. pic.twitter.com/8SwzOH7PIT
— iᴍ_Aʀʏᴀɴ18 (@crickohli18) December 19, 2024
Notably, Kohli is currently playing in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia, where, after his Perth Test ton, the right-hander is struggling to make runs. The dashing right-hander will be next seen in action in the fourth Test—the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Melbourne, starting on December 26.