Virat Kohli’s Emotional Journey: ‘I Promised My Brother I’d Play for India’
In a deeply moving revelation, Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli opened up about the most transformative moment of his life—the untimely death of his father in December 2006. This heartbreaking event, which occurred when Kohli was just 18, became the cornerstone of his remarkable career, driving him to fulfill a dream that was as much his father’s as it was his own: to don the Indian jersey.
At the time, Kohli was representing Delhi in a crucial Ranji Trophy match against Karnataka. Batting at 40 overnight, he received the devastating news of his father’s passing in the early hours of the morning. Despite the tragedy, Kohli made the gut-wrenching decision to return to the crease, eventually scoring an additional 50 runs to save his team from the follow-on. Recalling the moment in an interview with Graham Bensinger, he said, ‘I literally saw him breathe his last. We rushed him to the hospital, but unfortunately, they couldn’t revive him. I was blank, emotionless. I couldn’t even cry.’
Kohli informed his coach about the loss but insisted on continuing the match, stating, ‘Leaving a cricket match was not acceptable to me, no matter what.’ In the dressing room, surrounded by consoling teammates, the weight of the loss finally hit him, and he broke down. Yet, from this moment of despair emerged an unshakable resolve. After returning for the last rites, Kohli made a solemn vow to his elder brother: ‘I promised my brother that I will play for India. My father was so keen on seeing me achieve this, and from that day, cricket became my first priority—everything else in life took a backseat.’
This defining moment forged in Kohli a resilience that became the hallmark of his career. Reflecting on the experience, he shared, ‘Falling down and fighting back is part of sport and life. But that one incident made me so much stronger. I’m grateful for the strength I gained from such a dark point in my life.’ His father’s dream became his mission, propelling him to extraordinary heights in international cricket.
Kohli’s dedication bore fruit in the years that followed. In 2008, he led India to victory in the U-19 World Cup, a triumph that marked him as a future star. That same year, he made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka, and by 2011, he was part of the World Cup-winning squad under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. Later that year, he donned the whites for his Test debut against West Indies. Over the years, Kohli evolved from a promising talent to one of the greatest batsmen of his generation, amassing over 27,000 international runs across formats, including 80 centuries, as of October 2023.
Today, as he stands as one of cricket’s most celebrated figures, Kohli’s journey is a testament to the power of grit and emotional strength. His story is not just about runs and records but about a young boy who turned personal loss into a legacy of inspiration. ‘The ability to comeback became so much stronger after that day,’ he reflected, reminding us all that true greatness often emerges from the toughest trials.