New Delhi: During a social media interaction with former England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Thursday, the Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli revealed that it was former India skipper MS Dhoni who made his nickname 'Chiku' popular by shouting it most of the times during a cricket game from behind the stumps while wicket-keeping.
" I got this nickname from a coach in the Ranji Trophy. I used to have big cheeks then. In 2007 I thought I was losing hair. I got my hair cropped and my cheeks and ears stood out. I got the name from a cartoon character. The rabbit in the comic book Champak," Virat Kohli told Kevin Pietersen.
Virat Kohli On The Lowest Point In His cricketing Career
"The England tour in 2014. There is a time as a batsman when you know you will fail and you will not get runs. I used to wake up and know I would fail. It was the worst I have ever felt. It was tough. I promised myself that I will never allow me to let that happen to myself," Kohli said.
"It happened because I was so consumed about doing well from a personal point of view. I just felt I was in England and this was Test cricket and if I score runs here then I will establish myself. I was consumed by all that crap and that led to my downward spiral," Kohli added
Virat Kohli On His On-Field Aggression
"There is bit of crazy up here as well (in his head). When I played under MS (Dhoni) I was in his ear every moment. I wanted to be at the right place at the right time. I don't think I need to behave differently because I am a captain. I can't play any other way. I made a promise, the day I stop feeling like that I will stop," Kohli told former England batsman Kevi Pietersen during an Instagram live session.
"For me the most important thing is how can I contribute to help team win. That mindset should never change. Lot of things people say to stir things up in India, but you have to block the noise and make most of the opportunity in front of you," he added.
Virat Kohli On India's Problems On Away Soil
"Before we used to come in every 3-4 years in England. In India, you guys come every year for IPL. But now with so much tour and cricket, we don't feel we are playing in alien conditions. Anyone can beat anyone anywhere. we feel the same in terms of conditions. Now its all about fatigue and mindset."
Virat Kohli Sheds Light On Him Turning Vegan
"In 2018, I got a cervical spine issue. I could barely feel my finger and I couldn't sleep the body was acidic, my stomach started pulling calcium from my bones and my bones got weaker.
"I cut down uric acid from my body and I left the meat. That is the best decision I have made in my life. I have never felt better waking up. I can play 3 games a week and can recover within a day after a Test match and go on another."