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Importance of Cricket is Above Everything in My Life: Virat Kohli

Curated By: Cricketnext Staff

Last Updated: May 06, 2016, 10:15 IST

Virat Kohli walks out to bat during India's ICC World Twenty20 semi-final against West Indies at the  Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai,  on March 31, 2016.

Virat Kohli walks out to bat during India's ICC World Twenty20 semi-final against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on March 31, 2016.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Kohli said his biggest achievement will be "if children one day say they want to play the sport and be like me."

It was virtually unthinkable in the early years of cricket that matches could be fixed and players could be involved in corrupt practices. But from the 1990s, these vices started cropping up and tarnished the game's image.

Investigations, anti-corruption units, courts verdicts, players and team suspensions have become part of cricket news and hurt the sentiments of fans and game's reputation in equal mesure.

But India's Test captain Virat Kohli feels the ultimate control to curb corruption lies in the hands of individuals, while the cricket boards do their bit in bringing an end to this.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, Kohli said it will ultimately boil down to individuals to dispel approaches of match fixers.

“Authorities are doing their best to curb fixing, but there's only so much that can be done. They can set protocols or rules, but the choice boils down to the individual. If someone chooses to do wrong, it doesn't matter how much you control them," said Kohli.

However, he confessed that he was fortunate to be spared of any such corrupt approaches.

“Fortunately, I haven't had to encounter approach of any kind myself," he said.

Kohli spoke on a variety of issues, spanning from his introduction to cricket to fitness and his overwhelming success today. And it also included a touching story about one of his innings in a Ranji Trophy match on the day of his father’s death.

Kohli’s father died at 3 a.m. on December 19, 2006, but to the surprise of his Delhi team-mates, the then 18-year-old Kohli came back to resume his unbeaten knock. It was his courageous 90-run innings in emotionally-charged circumstances that helped Delhi save follow-on against Karnataka.

Talking about his decision to continue his innings despite the tragedy, Kohli said that not completing a cricket game would have been nothing less than a "sin".

“I still remember the night my father passed away as it was the hardest time in my life. But the call to play the morning after my father's death came instinctively to me.

"For me, not completing a cricket game was equivalent to committing a sin. Importance that cricket holds in my life is above everything else."

Kohli said his father’s death gave him a chance to stay firm in difficult circumstances and realising dreams of being successful at the highest level.

“My father's death gave me the strength to fulfill my dreams, and that of my father's also," said Kohli.

While Kohli maintained Test cricket is still the epitome, he said playing all three formats requires top-level fitness.

“Modern-day cricket is extremely demanding, players have to be at their absolute fittest. Everyone puts in the hard yards now to ensure desired results can be achieved. Test cricket is a journey in itself; it teaches you so much and helps you to find yourself," said the 27-year-old.

He also lauded the fitness of the Indian players and said he doesn't "cheat" with his physical training.

“The current Indian team is a very fit unit, it's a change we are very proud of. I train for an hour and a half every day. I don't allow myself any cheat days at all," he said.

“Young players want to announce themselves on the global stage and be respected as cricketers."

India’s matches against Pakistan put extra pressure on players from both the sides and Kohli admitted he felt the same in the beginning of his career. But on-field rivalry apart, the India captain said cricketers from both the sides have immense respect for each other.

“I remember being a little fazed in the first few matches I played against Pakistan. Both sets of players have a lot of mutual respect and admiration for each other," he said.

While he keeps knocking off records after records, for Kohli himself his biggest achievement will be to inspire children to play the game.

“If I can inspire people to take up cricket, I would feel I've achieved something special. If children one day say they want to play the sport and be like me, it would do me proud."

first published:May 06, 2016, 09:56 IST
last updated:May 06, 2016, 10:15 IST