Virat Kohli is currently enjoying one of his finest IPL seasons in years. With over 500 runs and seven fifties in 11 matches, the RCB star currently holds the Orange Cap in IPL 2025.
But even as he dominates with the bat, Kohli has not lost sight of how far he has come and who backed him when few others did.
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In a new episode of the RCB Podcast: Bold and Beyond titled Mindset of a Champion, Kohli sat down with anchor Mayanti Langer and opened up about a critical turning point in his early career: when MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten trusted him with the crucial No. 3 spot in India’s batting order.
Why did MS Dhoni back Virat Kohli to bat at No. 3?
During the conversation, Mayanti Langer pointed out that back in the early days, there was not much external pressure or push on Kohli to think beyond IPL - even though conversations around his potential were starting.
Responding to that, Kohli said he was “very realistic” about his game in those days.
“I did not feel like my game was anywhere close to theirs [other players]. The only thing I had was determination; if I wanted to make my team win, I was willing to do anything,” said Kohli.
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That attitude is what caught the eye of coach Gary Kirsten and captain MS Dhoni.
“Gary and MS made it very clear to me that 'we are backing you to play at number three. What you represent on the field: your energy, your engagement, is of the biggest value to us,'” he added.
Kohli admitted that at the time, he was not seen as a player who could take the game away single-handedly.
“I was never looked at as this outright match-winner who can change the game from anywhere. But I had this thing of - I’m going to stay in the fight. I’m not going to give up. And that is what they backed,” he added.
That backing gave him the space to evolve. Kohli confessed he was not the most technically gifted cricketer when he started out, but his hunger to learn and improve set him apart.
“I was very keen to learn. I wanted to be the best. There is no denying that. And that hunger to improve helped me win more games for my team,” he concluded.
Nearly two decades into his career, Kohli’s fight-first approach and relentless drive continue to inspire. The trust placed in him back then not only shaped a superstar but also revealed Dhoni’s keen eye for character over flair.
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