Virat Kohli’s Shocking Admission to Jos Buttler: ‘I Don’t Know How to Play Sometimes’
In a revelation that has sent ripples through the cricketing world, England wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler shared a candid moment from the IPL 2023 season where Indian cricketing titan Virat Kohli opened up about his vulnerabilities. During a heartfelt conversation, Kohli admitted to sometimes feeling like he doesn’t know how to wield a bat—a confession that left Buttler stunned, given Kohli’s status as one of the greatest white-ball players of all time.
Speaking on his new podcast, For the Love of Cricket, alongside former England pacer Stuart Broad, Buttler recounted how this interaction unfolded during a training session with Kohli’s team, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Buttler, who had an explosive IPL 2022 season scoring 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals, found himself grappling with the pressure to replicate that form in 2023. Aware of Kohli’s record-breaking 973 runs in a single IPL season (2016)—the highest in the tournament’s history—Buttler sought advice on handling sky-high expectations.
‘I found the next season quite tough. How do I live up to that incredible year? We were training at the same time as RCB, so I thought I’d ask him a few questions,’ Buttler explained. ‘There’s more expectation on Virat than perhaps anyone in world cricket. With 1.5 billion people hoping for him to score every time he steps out, how does he cope?’
Kohli, known for his fierce competitiveness and unflappable demeanor, was generous with his time and wisdom. He advised Buttler to accept that a standout season like 2022 might be a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. ‘He told me not to put unnecessary pressure on myself trying to replicate it. It’s okay, life will go on, and things will work out,’ Buttler recalled. But what followed was even more astonishing. Kohli, the man with over 13,000 ODI runs and 82 international centuries, confessed to harboring insecurities about his own game. ‘Sometimes I pick up my bat, and I feel like I don’t know how to play,’ Kohli admitted.
For Buttler, this was a jaw-dropping moment. ‘Here’s arguably the best player of our generation, especially in white-ball cricket, sharing such a human side of himself. I was so thankful for his time and insights,’ he said. This vulnerability from Kohli, who has often been seen as a symbol of perfection with his relentless pursuit of excellence, paints a picture of the immense mental challenges even the greatest athletes face.
Buttler went on to highlight the unique value of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a learning platform. ‘That’s why I always say the IPL is the best cricket academy in the world. You get to pick the brains of legends like Virat. Those conversations shape you for the next six to twelve months,’ he added. The IPL, since its inception in 2008, has not only been a spectacle of high-octane cricket but also a melting pot of experience, where players from across the globe exchange ideas and grow under pressure.
This exchange between two modern-day greats underscores a critical yet often overlooked aspect of cricket—the mental battle. While Kohli’s on-field heroics, including leading India to the 2011 World Cup triumph and captaining RCB for nearly a decade, are legendary, his admission reveals the self-doubt that lurks beneath the surface. For Buttler, who has himself led England to the 2022 T20 World Cup victory, this was a reminder that even icons are human.
As fans, we often place players on pedestals, expecting perfection in every match. Yet, stories like these remind us of the weight of expectation and the courage it takes to confront personal fears. Kohli’s honesty and Buttler’s willingness to share this moment offer a rare glimpse into the psyche of elite cricketers, making this interaction a powerful lesson in resilience and humility.
What do you think about Kohli’s candid confession? Does it change how you view the mental challenges of cricket? Let us know in the comments below!