Media365
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli’s presence in an Indian dressing room is often felt in moments that don’t make the highlights reel, and a small episode from India’s training camp in Vadodara has once again underlined that side of his leadership. Ahead of the opening ODI against New Zealand, a video surfaced on social media showing Kohli engaging with a local net bowler during an intense practice session, a clip that has quickly gone viral.The incident took place at the Kotambi Stadium on Saturday, January 10, where India were putting in the final touches before the three-match ODI series gets underway on Sunday. After an extended net session, Kohli paused to offer words of encouragement to the net bowler, later signing a cricket ball for him.
The interaction came after a demanding practice routine in which Kohli and the net bowler spent close to an hour and a half facing Indian pacers, spinners and throw-down specialists. Fresh off appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the sessions were designed to replicate match-like pressure, and Kohli appeared fully invested in every detail.During the exchange, Kohli was heard delivering a pointed yet motivational message: “Agar maar padh bhi jaati hai to koi baat nahi, par conviction se, ki main wo ball daal raha hu jo mujhe daalna hai, main wo ball nahi daal raha jo batsman mujhse dalwa raha hai (Even if you get hit, it’s fine. But you should have the conviction that you are delivering a ball that you want to, not the one the batter wants you to bowl).”Kohli arrives into the ODI series in red-hot form. After scores of 77 and 131 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he looked sharp against both pace and spin, even though inconsistent bounce from throw-down specialists challenged him in the nets. Now a single-format international player, Kohli skipped Delhi’s third Vijay Hazare match to join the national squad.His recent numbers underline his momentum. Kohli was named Player of the Series against South Africa after scoring 302 runs in three matches at an average of 151. He scored two centuries in the series. Against New Zealand, his ODI record remains formidable, with 1,657 runs from 33 matches at an average of 55.23.
