Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has spoken about what makes Virat Kohli different from the rest of the elite players in cricket. Abhishek attributed the great batter’s success and stamina to one vital trait: an unshakeable confidence in his own methods, win or lose.
Abhishek, who had firsthand experience of this mentality when he kept in touch with Kohli after leaving the Indian squad, said: Nayar’s move for the right-hander came after failing in an ODI series in Australia, where he registered two ducks. That meeting crystallised something deep about what drives the 36-year-old at the top level.
I have known Virat for a long time but one thing I discovered in the recent past is that the reason Virat Kohli is Virat Kohli is due of the belief systems he has. “Whatever happens that belief never changes,” Nayar stated on JioStar.
What is special about him when Kohli’s form dips?
Nayar had queried about Kohli’s well-being during the lean phase and the batter’s answer was extraordinary.
“I was still in touch with the Indian team, having just come out of it, when Virat was struggling in Australia and got those two ducks in the ODI series. I asked him if everything was okay, if there was anything he wanted to talk about. He just said ‘No, all right.
‘That’s the way it is in the game.’ Then I said, ‘I have an observation. You want to hear it?’ He smiled and said, ‘No, I’ll do it my way.’ I chuckled. “After the next game I got the answer ‘I did it my way’,” said Nayar.
That exchange was evidence of why champions play on a different plane. This quality struck Nayar very much.
That is the Virat Kohli I want to see. When the going gets difficult, the great players know how to do it. We may examine and conceive and envisage, but they’ve been doing it over and over again at the top level. And that is why I appreciate the likes of Virat and Rohit so much,” Nayar concluded.
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