Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni made it very clear that they were backing me to play at number three: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli opened up on him making Number 3 his own while playing for India. The Indian cricketer claimed he was realistic about his abilities and added his game was not close to many other youngsters.

Kohli felt the thing that separated him from the rest was his determination to win matches for his side.

"I was very realistic about my abilities. Because I had seen a lot of other people play. And I did not feel like my game was anywhere close to theirs. The only thing that I had was determination. And if I wanted to make my team win, I was willing to do anything," said Virat in the ‘RCB Bold Diaries’ podcast.

Virat claimed it to be the reason behind him getting to play for India and added that the duo of Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni wanted him to bat at Number 3.

"That was the very reason I got chances to play for India initially. And Gary (Kirsten) and MS (Dhoni) made it very clear to me that we are backing you to play at number three," Kohli added.

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I was never looked at as this outright match winner: Kohli

Kohli said Kirsten and Dhoni wanted him to be himself in the field and play the way he does.

"This is what you can do for the team. What you represent on the field, your energy, your engagement, is of the biggest value to us. We want you to play that way," Virat claimed in the podcast.

While Virat did not believe he was backed as a match winner, he felt his never-say-die attitude earned him the backing.

"So, I was never looked at as this outright match winner who can change the game from anywhere. But I had this thing, I’m going to stay in the fight. I’m not going to give up. And that is what they backed," Virat said.

Kohli had a fine start to his cricket career, as he led India to a title win in the Under-19 World Cup in 2008. He got a chance to play for RCB later in the year and went on to play for India in 2009. Since then, there has been no looking back.