Ishant Sharma recalls Virat Kohli's dark, challenging phase and how latter drove past adversity

Senior India pacer Ishant Sharma recalled star batter Virat Kohli's most tough phase of his life. Ishant and Kohli have shared a great bond since the start of their cricketing journey. Both players have known each other since their U-17 days and played for Delhi and India together.

Ishant opened up about Kohli's difficult period after the death of his father. The pacer said the India batter was lonely and sad before batting and winning the game at 17. He added that he has no idea how Kohli did that, and he would not have gone to ground if it had occurred to him.

“The day Virat Kohli’s father passed away, he was alone & sad, didn’t knew how to react but then he batted & won the game when he was just 17 years – till today I don’t understand how, if that happens to me, I would not have been gone to ground,” Ishant said on BeerBiceps' Youtube channel.

I have seen Kohli's all phases: Ishant 

Ishant then recalled Kohli's other phases, admitting that the star India batter has been through significant changes in his career. The 34-year-old claimed that the former India skipper was fond of parties and that during a tournament in Kolkata, he partied all night and hit 250 the next day. 

“I have seen all his phases. From party to tattoo, fitness freak to a top performer, he has made a massive transformation in his career. He was fond of parties, and during a tournament in Kolkata, he went partying the whole night but scored 250 the next day. He was unbeaten the previous day, and we were representing Delhi in U-19 cricket,” Ishant added.

Kohli featured in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, played at The Oval in London against Australia. On the fifth day of the one-off Test, India suffered a heartbreaking 209-run defeat to the Pat Cummins-led side. Notably, the 34-year-old batter struggled with the bat, scoring 14 and 49 runs in India's two innings, respectively.

Rohit Sharma and Co. will next tour the West Indies to play two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is. Notably, the two-match Test series will be team India’s first assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle 2023-25.