Team India secured a commanding victory over Pakistan, securing their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final. The match, held at the Dubai International Stadium, saw Virat Kohli steal the spotlight with an unbeaten century, guiding India to triumph in a high-stakes encounter. In the process, the star batter also reached the remarkable milestone of 14,000 international runs.
Among those witnessing this memorable innings was Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma who had been specially invited by the cricketer himself. Rajkumar Sharma expressed immense pride in his protégé’s performance. He dismissed recent criticisms of Virat Kohli’s form, calling them unfounded, and emphasised that his talent remains as sharp as ever. During the interview, Rajkumar Sharma said, “Virat Kohli himself gave me tickets for the stand. I am staying at his hotel. So he was aware I was in the stands and it makes me feel proud. As a coach nothing gives you more satisfaction.”
He added, “There are very high expectations from him. Everyone expects him to win a match for the country every time he takes the field, and also score big runs. He has done it on countless occasions for the country and is the biggest match-winner. I don’t think anyone would have won so many matches for India. When he doesn’t get going in a few games, everyone thinks he is failing. It’s not like that. Class always remains. Form can be a bit up and down or you can get a good ball sometimes. End of the day it shows that even he is human.”
There are many who say that Virat Kohli has passed his prime but Rajkumar Sharma dismissed all such statements as he called them, “baseless rumours”. In his words, “He has a lot of cricket left in him. If you look at him – his body language, his fitness, his skills. There is hardly any comparison.”
Over the years, Virat Kohli’s demeanor on the field has evolved. Once known for his fiery aggression, he has now adopted a more composed approach. However, Rajkumar Sharma noted that the same competitive spirit continues to drive him, especially when it matters the most.
He said, “That happens with age, one matures. He was aggressive earlier and still is when he is playing. Aggression is his strength. He was humble from the beginning but people used to think of him as a brash youngster who has tattoos and hairstyles. If you speak to him, know him then you would know that he is a humble guy and very respectful. Virat Kohli has become religious, mellowed down after marriage and kids.”
Despite facing skepticism, Kohli continues to command the support of a vast majority of fans and well-wishers. Rajkumar Sharma is pretty confident that his former student would rise to the occasion, and Kohli delivered exactly like that, once again proving why he is one of the finest cricketers.
Rajkumar Sharma further added, “I want to know why there is so much criticism. After all, he is also human. He has contributed so much that you must praise his contribution for the country. People should realise that a lot of cricket is left in Virat Kohli. There could be people of a negative mindset or sadists who continue to criticise him. But the entire nation is his well-wisher and wants him to do well.”
He added, “I was very confident, he was very confident. He is always very confident. You can make that out from his body language. He is very strong mentally too so I was sure he would do well.”
Click here if you wish to watch the video of the interview
With this emphatic win, India moves forward with renewed confidence, eyeing the ultimate prize in the prestigious tournament.
