It has not taken Virat Kohli very long to transition from a world cup winning U-19 captain to a regular for India in all forms of the game. He has established himself with grit, determination, and a demonstration of unusual cricketing maturity in one so young. At the international level he has played stunning innings in the shorter formats, and he has ground out important runs in the longer format after some initial struggles.
However Virat Kohli has a lot of growing up to do. And he must do that quickly if he is to play for his country's cricket team with dignity.
Virat got into a needless confrontation with his India teammate Gautam Gambhir in an IPL game a few days ago. Apparently Gambhir said something after Kohli was dismissed, and it irked Kohli enough that he got into an ugly brawl with Gambhir. It took a timely intervention from Rajat Bhatia to separate Kohli and Gambhir.
A few days later the Mumbai crowd tore into Kohli for what they saw as unsportsman like conduct from the Royal Challengers captain. Kohli responded with incredulity. He could not understand why he, an India star, got such treatment in an IPL game being played at an Indian venue. After all, wouldn't the crowd cheer for him if he were playing for India at the same venue? "The IPL is not the end of the world", Kohli went on to say.
I have a simple question for Kohli. If he were playing for India, would he have blown up in similar fashion at a teammate like Gambhir? And if IPL is not the end of the world, why did he make a fool of himself by reacting like he did when Gambhir had something to say to him in the heat of the moment? I suppose all is fair when Kohli is dishing it out, but those giving him grief must be villains, even if it happens in the IPL, which is "not the end of the world".
Virat must realize that he is a very good cricketer, not the conscience keeper of everyone around him. He needs to look at seniors like Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman, and Kumble, and realize that what makes these gentlemen who they are is not just cricketing brilliance. These men have played the game with such dignity, grace, and humility that everyone would want their kids to follow them as role models.
Over the last one week I have gone from being a great admirer of Virat Kohli to one who doesn't care very much for him. Even if Kohli goes on to become the best Indian batsman ever, I certainly don't want my kids to grow up to be arrogant like him. I will be a bigger fan of a humble and less successful cricketer than a haughty and wildly successful Virat Kohli any day.
Grow up Virat. The Bangalore brawl perhaps cost you a friendship. The Mumbai outburst certainly cost you a lot of fan following. If you carry on like this, it might jeopardize something bigger - your legacy. Cricket has given you a lot. Stop taking it for granted.
