Top 5 players whose careers were reportedly destroyed by Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the best batters in Indian cricket history. During his career, he has scored heavily across formats and delivered several memorable performances for India. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure have made him one of the most successful players of his generation.

Kohli also served as India’s captain across formats and played a major role in shaping the team during his tenure. Under his leadership, several young players received opportunities and became important members of the Indian side. However, his captaincy also faced criticism over certain team selections and decisions.

Some players struggled to establish themselves in the Indian team during Kohli’s captaincy. In a few cases, their limited opportunities or inconsistent runs in the side led to questions about their future. While it would be too strong to say that Kohli alone destroyed their careers, his captaincy period remains an important part of their stories.

In this article, we look at five players whose international careers were reportedly affected during Virat Kohli’s captaincy. Their situations were different, and several factors contributed to their struggles, but their lack of consistent opportunities became a major talking point among cricket fans.

5. Rahul Chahar

Rahul Chahar is fifth on this list. He was selected in India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 and was preferred over Yuzvendra Chahal because of his pace and suitability for the slow UAE pitches. Chahar had also performed well for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, taking 13 wickets in 11 matches that season.

Chahar had a decent start to his international career. He picked up three wickets in his only ODI appearance, while he took seven wickets in six T20Is at an average of 23.85 and an economy rate of 7.59. However, after the 2021 T20 World Cup, he was not selected for another international match for a long period.

According to a Times of India report published on October 16, 2021, Virat Kohli admitted that leaving out experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was a difficult decision. He explained that Rahul Chahar’s ability to bowl with more pace on the slow UAE pitches influenced the selection.

4. Varun Aaron

Varun Aaron was once seen as one of India’s most promising fast bowlers. His biggest strength was his extreme pace, as he could regularly bowl at high speeds and trouble batters. However, a series of injuries and stress fractures affected his career and kept him out of the team for long periods. Despite these setbacks, Aaron remained determined to maintain his pace.

Aaron made his international debut under MS Dhoni’s captaincy and went on to play nine Tests and nine ODIs for India. He picked up 18 wickets in Tests at an average of 52.61 and 11 wickets in ODIs at an average of 38.09. Although his pace made him a dangerous bowler, his lack of consistency and control often allowed batters to score freely.

The emergence of bowlers such as Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav made it even harder for Aaron to return to the Indian team. With several other pacers also competing for places, his opportunities became limited. While his career was affected by injuries and strong competition, it would be unfair to say that Virat Kohli alone was responsible for his decline.

3. Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu had to wait a long time for his opportunity with the Indian team despite consistently performing in domestic cricket and the IPL. Once he got his chance, he made a strong impact in ODIs. Rayudu played 55 ODIs for India, scoring 1,694 runs at an impressive average of 47.05, including three centuries and 10 fifties. His highest score was 124 not out.

Rayudu looked set to become a regular member of India’s ODI team ahead of the 2019 World Cup. However, he was surprisingly left out of the squad, with Vijay Shankar selected instead. Even after Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar suffered injuries during the tournament, Rayudu was not included in the squad. He later announced his retirement from international cricket in July 2019.

Virat Kohli’s name was brought into the debate because of his earlier comments about Rayudu. After the 2018 Asia Cup, Kohli had reportedly said that India needed to back Rayudu until the 2019 World Cup. His subsequent exclusion from the World Cup squad led to criticism from some fans, who questioned the team management’s decision. However, there is no clear evidence that Kohli alone was responsible for Rayudu’s exclusion.

2. Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is widely regarded as one of India’s most impactful all-rounders. He played a key role in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories. His six sixes against Stuart Broad in the 2007 T20 World Cup remain one of the most memorable moments in Indian cricket. However, his career suffered a major setback after the 2011 World Cup when he was diagnosed with stage I lung cancer. After recovering, Yuvraj returned to cricket and continued to fight for his place in the Indian team.

Yuvraj was included in India’s squad for the 2017 Champions Trophy after Virat Kohli became the captain. He also played in the subsequent series against the West Indies, but a lack of consistent runs saw him lose his place again. Yuvraj eventually retired from international cricket in 2019. His career after his cancer recovery has often been discussed because he struggled to regain a permanent place in the Indian team.

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa later made strong comments about Kohli’s role in Yuvraj’s career. Speaking to Lallantop, Uthappa said Yuvraj deserved some flexibility because of his contribution to India and his battle with cancer. He also claimed that Yuvraj was not given any special consideration during fitness tests and suggested that Kohli’s strong personality influenced the team’s decisions at the time. However, these are Uthappa’s views, and there is no clear evidence that Kohli alone was responsible for the end of Yuvraj’s international career.

1. Amit Mishra

Amit Mishra was one of India’s most experienced leg-spinners, but he played only 68 international matches during his career. He represented India in 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is, taking 76, 64 and 16 wickets respectively. His last international appearance came in February 2017. Mishra also won the Player of the Series award in his final ODI series, but he was unable to secure a regular place in the team afterwards.

Mishra played under both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli during his international career. His retirement from all forms of cricket brought renewed attention to his relationship with Kohli. Speaking to PTI, Mishra said some players can become a captain’s favourites, but added that a player must continue to prove himself whenever he gets an opportunity. His comments led to discussions about whether he was referring to his own experience with the Indian team.

Mishra had previously spoken openly about his equation with Kohli. In an interview, he said that he respected Kohli as a cricketer but no longer shared the same relationship with him. Mishra also claimed that Kohli had changed after gaining fame, money and captaincy, while praising Rohit Sharma for remaining the same person over the years. However, Mishra’s comments reflect his personal experience, and there is no clear evidence that Kohli alone was responsible for the end of his international career.