Virat Kohli was the focus of attention as Delhi practised ahead of their Ranji Trophy game against Railways at Kochi on January 28. Kohli had joined the group for the first time, and getting him into the nets was electrifying enough. Amidst all the intense drills and discussions, a sweet moment came when a young boy the son of one of Kohli’s former age-group teammates asked Kohli the most naive question.

“Indian cricketer banne ke liye kya karna padega? (What does one need to do to become an Indian cricketer?)” the eager youngster asked, his eyes filled with dreams.
The Indian captain known for his passion and discipline let out a wide smile before uttering some pearls of wisdom. “Bohot mehnat karni padegi (You’ll have to work very hard). And remember, your dad shouldn’t have to tell you to go for practice—you should wake up on your own and say, ‘I have to train today,'” Virat Kohli advised.
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His message was simple but powerful—self-motivation is key. He continued, “If someone practices for one hour, you should train for two. If someone scores a fifty, aim for a hundred. If someone gets a hundred, you go for a double century. The only way to reach the top is to push beyond the benchmark.”
such a heartwarming and inspiring little conversation 🫶🥹 pic.twitter.com/YZQD2JuU1h
— 𝒑. 💌 (@ssnoozefest) January 28, 2025
Then Kohli highlighted another important lesson—dedication should come from within. “If someone has to remind you to practice, that’s not right. You should be the one saying, ‘I want to train,’ and others should be the ones telling you to rest for a day.” He ended with an encouraging note, “Keep working hard and, most importantly, enjoy playing the game.”
This inspiring interaction perfectly reflected Kohli’s own journey—his relentless pursuit of excellence and his unwavering commitment to improvement.
Meanwhile, Kohli is to make a much-awaited comeback to the Ranji Trophy, the first time in over 12 years he would be playing for the prestigious domestic competition. It has been over 12 years since he last played in the tournament, in November 2012, when he had not yet become a global cricket icon.
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Kohli is set to wear the Indian jersey once more as India takes on England in a three-match ODI series. Afterward, he will accompany the team to the UAE for the eagerly anticipated Champions Trophy, where fans will closely watch his performance on this prominent stage.