Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that batting star Virat Kohli may publicly claim that outside opinions do not affect him but criticism still reaches him and impacts him in some way.
Speaking on a Podcast, Sanjay Manjrekar shared an experience from Virat Kohli’s time as India captain. He said there were moments when Kohli suddenly appeared distant or cold during the toss, which made him feel that the former skipper may have heard negative comments or criticism about himself.
According to Manjrekar, Virat Kohli is someone who values his privacy deeply but is also highly aware of what people say about him. However, he added that this sensitivity often works in Kohli’s favour because criticism motivates him to perform better and prove people wrong with big scores.
Sanjay Manjrekar explained that Virat Kohli belongs to the group of players who publicly say they are unaffected by public opinion but internally use criticism as fuel. He feels that hearing negative remarks pushes Kohli to come back stronger, often resulting in another match-winning century.
The former cricketer also praised Virat Kohli’s leadership qualities and his ability to keep the Indian team motivated even in difficult situations. Sanjay Manjrekar recalled that even when conditions were not ideal for bowlers and wickets seemed unlikely, Virat never allowed the team’s energy levels to drop. Instead, he constantly encouraged players and made them believe that a breakthrough was always possible. He described this ability to maintain intensity and belief as one of the biggest strengths of Virat Kohli as captain.
One of the best examples of Kohli’s leadership, according to Sanjay Manjrekar, came during India’s 2021 tour of England. Before the final day of the Lord’s Test, Kohli delivered his famous “60 overs of hell” speech during a team huddle. The fiery motivation inspired India to produce a memorable performance and secure a historic 151-run victory at Lord’s.
Sanjay Manjrekar also said that every Indian player reflected Kohli’s aggressive mindset during his captaincy tenure. He believes the team adopted the personality of its captain, with every player expected to match Kohli’s intensity and energy on the field.
He added that players who looked low on energy or lacked aggression risked losing their place in the playing XI, which is why the entire team responded strongly to Virat Kohli’s demanding leadership style.
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