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Virat Kohli has revealed that one of the most defining moments of his early career was a painful defeat to Pakistan in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.
Speaking on the RCB podcast, Kohli recalled replacing an injured Yuvraj Singh at the last minute and scoring only 16 runs before falling to Shahid Afridi. India lost by 54 runs.
“That was my first India-Pakistan game. I tried to hit Afridi over long-on and got caught. I couldn’t sleep after that,” Kohli said.
He admitted that the loss led to deep self-doubt. “I thought, ‘This is it. I’ve blown my chance.’ I was up till 5am just staring at the ceiling,” he added.
Kohli said the pressure of performing in such a high-stakes match, coupled with being recalled after a year, made the situation mentally overwhelming.
However, he considers the game a turning point in his journey. The disappointment drove him to rebuild himself mentally and technically over time.
He later became one of India’s most consistent match-winners, especially in high-pressure games against Pakistan. “That failure gave me the hunger to never feel that helpless again,” he said.
Kohli also credited former South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher for playing a big mentoring role during the early years of his IPL career.
“Mark Boucher had the biggest impact on me as a young player. He observed me and didn’t wait for me to ask for help,” Kohli revealed.
Boucher pointed out Kohli’s struggle against the short ball and personally guided him through net sessions to improve his technique.
“He told me, ‘No one will give you a chance in international cricket if you can’t handle the short ball.’ That stuck with me,” Kohli shared.
Boucher even used tennis balls in practice to simulate bouncers and push Kohli out of his comfort zone. “That was very new and very helpful for me,” Kohli said.
From a sleepless night in 2009 to becoming a modern cricket legend, Kohli’s story reflects the power of failure, self-awareness, and early guidance.
