Playing alongside Virat Kohli has been a dream come true for many young cricketers. Swapnil Singh, who represented Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is one of the fortunate few who had the opportunity to share the pitch with the Indian batting legend during his U-15 and U-19 days as well as in the IPL.
The 33-year-old all-rounder recently shared insights about his relationship with Kohli. The duo first crossed paths at a U15 NCA (National Cricket Academy) camp at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru back in 2004. Swapnil had a chance to reconnect with Kohli after RCB signed him at the mini-auction ahead of the 2024 IPL season.
During an interview on the YouTube podcast, The Uncapped Indians, Swapnil Singh discussed the noticeable changes in Kohli since their earlier encounters.
ALSO READ: Shakib Al Hasan Praises Rohit Sharma’s Leadership Ahead Of T20 World Cup 2024
According to Swapnil Singh, Virat Kohli has become much calmer over the years. “We played together in U19 and U15, and Kohli had a very flamboyant personality back then. But when I met him this time, I saw a huge change. He is more introspective, has become calmer, enjoys spending time with his family, and speaks less but with more wisdom,” he observed.
Swapnil also talked about the advice Kohli gave him during the IPL season. The RCB all-rounder revealed that Kohli emphasized the importance of sticking to the basics. “He (Kohli) told me to stick to the basics and strengthen them. When you are doing well, you need to focus even more on the basics. We had many discussions, and he kept reiterating this point,” Swapnil Singh recounted.
This guidance from Virat Kohli significantly boosted Swapnil’s confidence. He feels that when a “legend of Virat’s stature” advises you about basics, it helps you become mentally sorted and focus on the right aspects of the game.
ALSO READ: Brian Lara Offers Strategic Advice To Rahul Dravid For T20 World Cup 2024 Final Preparations
Regarding Swapnil Singh’s performance in the 2024 IPL, the UP-born cricketer initially spent much of his time on the bench as an unused substitute. However, once given the opportunity, he made a significant impact, contributing to RCB’s strong comeback in the second half of the league stage. Swapnil provided crucial batting cameos and showcased his wicket-taking abilities with slower deliveries. He scored 28 runs at a strike rate of 164.70 in four innings and picked up six wickets with an economy rate of 8.76.
