“Something very …”: East-India star young Virat Kohli remembers the unforgettable knock

Former Indian cricket team Batter Robin Uthappa recently recalled a emotional and powerful moment from Virat Kohli’s early cricket trip. Speaking at the Kimappa show, Uthappa shared how Kohli batted in the Ranji Trophy match for Delhi a few hours after losing his father. Despite the pain and heartbreak, the young batsman focused a lot of strength, composition and focus at the crease. The incident left a deep impression on Uthappa, which described this moment as both heartbreaking and beautiful. Kohli, at that time only 18, reached the ground in completely silence. Nobody knew what happened. He was preparing for himself, quietly. It was not until anyone asked why he looked unusually calm as he shared the news – that she had died before her father’s night.

In that match, Uthappa, who was playing for Karnataka, said that this moment shook everyone in the dressing room. “Something was very beautiful about it,” he said.

“You could see sorrow in his eyes, but he was there, was ready to bat. That day, I realized that he was different.”

Kohli’s decision to play despite personal loss was not about proving a point – it was about respecting his father’s faith in his dream. His father, Prem Kohli supported his cricket journey from the beginning. By choosing to bat that day, Kohli paid him a silent tribute. While the innings itself would not have been recorded in the number of records, it was unforgettable in emotions and intentions.

It showed a glimpse of mental strength and discipline to the world that will proceed to define Virat Kohli’s career.

Uthappa said, “This is the kind of love and respect for the game. Even at that age, he knew what his journey of cricket means. He included that grief in the performance.”

Years later, this story resonates as a symbol of Kohli’s unmatched passion, professionalism and a deep emotional relationship with sports. The story also reminds of sacrifices and emotional challenges that often faces athletes behind the curtains. For many people, such moments are never reflected on camera or in figures, but they shape the character of a sportsperson.

In the case of Kohli, it became a significant turn – a moment that not only revealed his mental cruelty, but also set a tone for the cricketer who knew the world. For Uthappa and others who saw it, memory remains unforgettable.