'For every smack on my head...': Kohli's emotional post for coach who helped him 'don Indian jersey'
Virat Kohli paid a special tribute to childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma for helping him make his Team India debut.
Considered to be one of the greatest players in cricket history, Virat Kohli has had a career which most cricketers can only dream of. The swashbuckling batter is currently participating in IPL 2023 with Royal Challengers Bangalore, and is fifth in the Orange Cap race. In 11 matches, he has smacked 420 runs, at an average of 42.00 and 133.75 strike rate. His highest score this season is 82* and he has registered six half-centuries.
Kohli is RCB's second-highest run-scorer this season, behind captain Faf du Plessis, who leads the Orange Cap race. Du Plessis has slammed 576 runs in 11 games, at an average of 57.60 and 157.80 strike rate, packed with six half-centuries.
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Kohli will also be hoping to maintain his form and continue it to the upcoming ODI World Cup, scheduled for this year. After IPL 2023, Kohli and Rohit Sharma-led India also face Australia in the World Test Championship final, starting from June 7 onwards.
Kohli made his Team India debut on August 18, 2008, in an ODI match against Sri Lanka. His T20I debut came on June 12, 2010, and his Test debut on June 20, 2011. According to Kohli, something which he has repeated many times, much of the credit for his cricket journey goes to childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma.
The 34-year-old reiterated it in a recent Instagram post. In the post, he paid tribute to his childhood coach and also thanked him for his part in donning the Indian jersey. "For some, sport will always come second so I feel it’s very important to celebrate those who believed in you from day one. I am forever grateful to Rajkumar sir who has not just been a coach to me, but also a mentor who has supported me throughout my journey. I was just a boy who dared to dream but it was your belief that helped me don the Indian jersey 15 years ago", Kohli wrote.
"For every bit of advice, every batting lesson, every smack on my head, every pat on my back and for carrying my dream as your own, I want to thank you", he further added.
Kohli is the highest run-scorer in T20Is and also in the IPL. With Team India, he won the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy. Kohli stepped down as India captain in T20Is, after India's disastrous showing in the 2021 T20 World Cup and in early 2022, he even gave up his Test skipper role.
