"Gary and MS made it..."- Virat Kohli recalls advice from World Cup-winning captain and coach amid retirement speculation

As Virat Kohli, the former ODI captain, reaches Australia for the upcoming three-match 50-over series down under from October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, there are still fresh speculations of whether the veteran would continue to play the 50-over format till the next World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

During a recent podcast with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kohli recalled the suggestion from the former Indian World Cup-winning captain, MS Dhoni, and the head coach, Gary Kirsten, ahead of the home World Cup 2011. That was the early stage of Kohli’s career, having made his debut just two years ago against Sri Lanka.

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“Gary and MS made it very clear to me that we are backing you to play at number three. And this is what you can do for the team. What you represent on the field, your energy, your engagement, that's one of the biggest values to us. So we want you to play that way.” Kohli expressed during the interaction.

Virat Kohli reveals what MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten told him ahead of ODI World Cup 2011

Kohli wasn’t the most renowned player when he joined the national side. But over the years, with his match-winning performances, he collected fame and became one of the top performers of the Blue Brigade.

“I was never looked upon as an outright match-winner who could change a game from anywhere. But I had this thing where I'm going to stay in the fight, I am not going to give up. And that is what they backed. So that very thing God blessed me with that helped me improve my game and technique.” Kohli addressed.

“I have never been shy to admit that I was not the most technically sound, naturally gifted player. I evolved a lot while playing because I was keen on learning, very keen to get better. I wanted to be the best. There's no denying I wanted to be the best. And that hunger, that desire to keep improving and eventually win more games for your team, is what helped me improve my game.” The Delhi-born concluded.