Former Indian pacer Ishant Sharma has lavished huge praise on legendary batter Virat Kohli, stating the right-hand batter always possessed an unparalleled focus, ensuring that the outside noise hardly affected his performance. Notably, the pacer and the RCB icon have shared dressing room since their Under-12 days for Delhi.
Later, Ishant was the leader in charge of the Test bowling attack, with Kohli being the skipper. Often, the former would win matches on his own, and displayed his best years in the red-ball format under the batter's aggressive leadership. Speaking on the Raj Shamani podcast, the expert first talked about the cricketers who carried a 'legendary aura" during his playing days. While the former Indian pacer took several names, Kohli's name consistently stood out.
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"See, when I first started playing, I used to feel everyone had that vibe, everyone was a legend. Later on, when I played, I felt that with just one person, Virat Kohli," Ishant said.
The expert also recalled the RCB star's attitude during tough moments, highlighting a Ranji Trophy match in which the legendary batter played even after his father's demise midway through the game - a story Ishant has also shared in another podcast with Ranveer Allahabadia.
"His attitude was like that: I am here, I will get the job done. Nothing outside has affected his game. Whatever is happening outside, he knows that when he is on the field, he will score runs come what may. He has always been like that. Even if he has come back at 2 AM or 3 AM or batted overnight, the next day he would go out and score," Ishant added.
Kohli's fitness was next level: Ishant Sharma
The expert further praised Kohli's peak fitness levels and how he understood very quickly how it would help enhance his game, and also would give him a competitive edge over his opponents.
"I think he understood that if he wanted to play, he had to get fit. He is aware that fitness allows him to play long, keeps his reflexes fast, and improves his fielding. That change came about in 2011 after the World Cup and the IPL," Ishant explained.
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Beyond fitness, Ishant always admired Kohli's mental toughness as nothing on or off the field - whether team setbacks, media pressure, or personal glory - seemed to affect his focus. The batter always approached any game with a razor-focused purpose. Currently, Kohli is gearing up to play the upcoming three-match ODI series Down Under. Fans will hope the batter ends his international career with the same dedication and passion as Ishant described.
