India skipper Virat Kohli on Tuesday (April 21) disclosed how he "howled" through the night after being overlooked by his state side.
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Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma opened up about their lives and careers in an online session with students.
"The first time I was rejected in the state selections, I remember it was late at night and I just cried. I howled till about three in the morning and I could not believe it," Kohli said.
"Because I scored well, everything was going perfectly for me. I performed till I reached that stage and I was rejected.
"And I kept asking my coach for two hours, why didn't it happen? And I couldn't make sense of it. But when there is passion and commitment, that motivation comes back to you," he added.
Kohli made his debut for Delhi in 2006 before breaking into the national side two years later. Since then, he has come a long way and is currently rated as the best batsman in the world.
The Indian captain has already aggregated 43 one-day international hundreds – only behind his batting hero Sachin Tendulkar (49). He averages a mind-boggling 59.33 in ODIs from 248 matches with 11,867 runs while his T20I average reads 50.80 in 82 games with 2794 runs.
Virat has also proved his mettle in the traditional format of cricket, scoring 7240 runs at an impressive average of 53.62 from 86 matches thus far. He boasts of 27 tons in Tests with 6 of them being double.
Speaking about the part Anushka played in his success, Kohli said: "To be honest the patience bit I have learnt ever since me and Anushka met each other. I was very impatient before."
The couple met in 2013 when filming a shampoo advert.
"The learnings from one another that we have had, looking at her personality, looking at her composure in situations has really inspired me to fight it out.
"Even when things are tough you have to swallow your ego and keep being there in adversity, keep fighting your way out and eventually you will find a way. So that's what I have seen her do and I have learnt from that."
(With AFP inputs)
