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Virat Kohli reacts during the first ODI in Vadodara, Gujarat. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli may be India's biggest crowd-puller, but the former captain has made it clear that he is uncomfortable with a long-standing habit of fans cheering when an Indian batter gets out — simply because it signals his arrival at the crease.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The moment has played out for years in Indian cricket. During Sachin Tendulkar's era, a loud cheer at the fall of the second wicket in Test matches often meant the legend was next in. The same followed
MS Dhoni
, and now Kohli. But on Sunday, during India's first ODI against New Zealand, something changed.
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When
Rohit Sharma
was dismissed for a brisk 26, the stadium briefly fell silent. Kohli waited before walking out, allowing Rohit to leave the field first.
The applause came only after that pause — and Kohli later addressed the issue head-on.“I'm aware of it, and honestly, I don't feel good about it,” Kohli said after being named Player of the Match. “I've seen the same thing happen with MS as well. It's not a great feeling for the guy walking back. I understand the crowd's excitement, but I try to focus on what I need to do and not think too much about it.”Kohli then balanced that honesty with gratitude for the love he receives.
“I'm extremely grateful. It's a blessing, honestly. To give so much happiness to so many people just by doing what you love — what more can I ask for? I'm living my dream, and seeing people smile makes me happy.”
Poll
Do you believe fans should adjust their cheering habits when a player gets dismissed?
Yes, it's disrespectful to the players.No, it's just part of the excitement.
The 37-year-old backed his words with another masterclass in a chase, scoring 93 as India overhauled 301. It marked his seventh consecutive fifty-plus score in List-A cricket and underlined his dominance while chasing big totals.“The basic idea is I bat at number three and, if the situation is tricky, I back myself to counterattack,” Kohli explained. “Any ball can have your name on it, so there's no point being passive. You stick to your strengths.”Despite missing his 54th ODI hundred, Kohli insisted milestones were not on his mind. “If I'm being brutally honest, I'm not thinking about records at all. The only thing on my mind was getting the team into a position where we could win comfortably.”
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