Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) recounted how former South African wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher influenced him during his early years in the Indian Premier League (IPL), claiming that his chats with the Protean legend "stunned" him.
Boucher played for RCB from 2008-10, when Virat was slowly finding his feet in international cricket and had not played Test cricket for India. In 27 matches, Boucher made 388 runs at an average of 29.85, with a half-century.
RCB's leading run-getter in IPL history was speaking on the upcoming episode of the RCB Podcast, which had a trailer shared on the team's official X handle.
"Out of all players I played with initially, Boucher had the biggest impact on me. He figured out what my weaknesses could be. If I wanted to go to the next level, this is what I need to do, without me asking him anything. He told me that 'when I came to commentate in India three-four years from now and I do not see you playing for India, you would do a disservice to yourself. So he really stunned me with the conversations he had with me,” Virat Kohli said on the RCB show on X.
Virat also spoke on his loyalty to RCB, a franchise he has been with from the beginning of his IPL career, stating that the "relationship and mutual respect" he has with the team is more valuable.
"The love that I have received from the fans, I do not think any silverware or any trophy can come close to that," he added.
Virat also said that nothing in IPL has changed for him after T20I retirement.
"I do not think things have changed for me in any way. The decision (to leave T20Is) was taken purely understanding that there is a new set of players who are more than ready and they need time, they need a 2-year cycle to evolve, handle pressure, play in different parts of the world, and play enough games to the point where when the World Cup comes, they feel like they are ready," he concluded.
Virat is now third in the IPL in terms of runs scored, with 443 runs in 10 innings at an average of 63.28, a strike rate of over 139, and six fifties, the best of which was 73*.
(ANI inputs)
