Many people consider Virat Kohli to be one of the best batters in cricket nowadays. The former Indian skipper is also in excellent form at the current T20 World Cup, leading all scorers with 220 runs through four innings. As of this point in the competition, Kohli has three undefeated hundreds and has been a major factor in each of India’s victories.
On Saturday, the right-handed batter also celebrated his 34th birthday in front of the media and his teammates. In addition to receiving congratulations on the occasion from current and former cricketers worldwide, former India opener Virender Sehwag shared a previously untold tale about the first time he saw Kohli play domestic cricket. This was many years ago.
Sehwag shared a memorable anecdote on Cricbuzz, he narrated, “Jab pehli baar mujhe pata chala ki Virat Kohli ek achhe khilaadi aa rahe hain, vo samay tha jab Ajit Chaudhary hamaare Ranji Trophy me assistant coach the. Unhone mujhe bataaya tha ki ek player aa raha hai, uska naam hai Virat Kohli. Vo U16, U18 me unke coach the, aur unke under Kohli khele the. Unhone kaha ki ye aane waale time me India ke liye khelega (I first came to know about Kohli when our coach, Ajit Chaudhary told me about him. Kohli played under him for U16, U18 sides. He had said that Kohli will represent India one day).”
Also Read: Who Is Better Captain, Dhoni or Rohit Sharma? BCCI President Binny Gives His Verdict
He added, “Ham log Delhi ke liye ek T20 tournament khel rahe the. Virat Kohli ne shot lagaaya long-on aur long-off ke beech me backfoot punch, bowler ke paas se. Dono fielder rok nahi paaye. Tab mujhe laga, iss ladke me kuch special talent hai (We were playing for Delhi in a T20 tournament. Kohli played a shot that went through long-on and long-off, and none of the fielder could stop it. It was then, when I realised that this guy has a special talent).”
Along with Sehwag, Kohli was a member of the Indian ODI team that won the World Cup in 2011.
