Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has given a very vibrant and surprising comment on the legendary Indian batter Sachin Tendulkar. While recalling the memory of the 2011 ODI World Cup in a Podcast released by his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kohli said, “Sachin Tendulkar has carried the burden of the nation for 21 years. It was time we carried him.”
After 28 years, the MS Dhoni-led Indian team finally won the ODI World Cup. In the 2011 ODI World Cup final in Mumbai, they defeated Sri Lanka and clinched the trophy. Although Kohli was only 22 at the time, he had already shown leadership abilities. Tendulkar was Kohli’s idol, as he was of many aspiring Indian cricketers. The great man did all that he could for his country and nearly broke every batting record, but the World Cup trophy remained a mystery to him. Tendulkar was not the part of 2007 T20 World that India won in its very first edition.
While having the conversation in the Podcast released, Kohli said that he did not expect to be the part of 2011 ODI World Cup but he got the opportunity.
Kohli said, “I was lucky enough to be part of that team and what led to my selection was also amazing because I had a run of great scores and I ended up being in the team. I never expected it to happen. When things are meant to be. Sachin Tendulkar was playing his sixth World Cup if I am not wrong. And that was the one he won. And That was my first time and I ended up being on the winning side.”
Kohli also won the ICC Champions Trophy happened in 2013 under the leadership of MS Dhoni but in his own captaincy Kohli does not have any major ICC Trophy. For this Kohli said, “I’m not mad about my trophy cabinet being full. That’s always been a by-product of the kind of discipline you have.”