Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli recently took a stroll down memory lane, opening up about his unforgettable journey during the 2011 ODI World Cup. Back then, the tournament was co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and it marked a significant chapter in Kohli’s career. With Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the helm, Kohli recounted his experiences of playing under Dhoni’s leadership and fondly reminisced about some of the finest moments that the tournament had to offer.
In 2008, Virat Kohli marked his entry into the International cricket stage. The buzz around him hinted at a potential superstar, and today, 15 years down the road, he stands tall as an absolute legend in the cricketing world. As the ODI World Cup approaches on October 5, commencing with an England versus New Zealand match in Ahmedabad, all eyes focus on Kohli as one of India’s important players for the Indian Team in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Recalling the 2011 ODI World Cup, a tournament co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Kohli conveyed his insights. Led by the talented MS Dhoni, the Indian team grabbed the championship, ending a 28-year-long drought for a 50-over World Cup victory. At that time, Kohli was a young 22-year-old, and the gravity of the achievement evaded him. However, the passage of time and the experience of losing out on successes in two following ODI World Cups and five T20 World Cups have offered him a deeper appreciation of what the senior players felt after their spectacular win in 2011.
“My career highlight is obviously winning the World Cup in 2011. I was 23 at the time, and I probably didn’t understand the magnitude of it. But now at 34, and have played many World Cups, which we haven’t been able to win, So, I understand the emotions of all the senior players (in 2011). All the more for Sachin Tendulkar, as it was his last World Cup. He had already played many World Cups by then and to win it in Mumbai, his hometown, was very special for him. I mean, it was stuff from dreams,” Kohli said at a promotional event in Bengaluru.
Thankfully, there was no social media back then: Virat Kohli
At 34 years of age, he reflected on the immense pressure that the experienced players felt back in the 2011 World Cup. Fans were unceasingly encouraging them to secure the trophy on home soil. One vivid memory for Kohli was the enchanting night in Mumbai when India emerged victorious against Sri Lanka in the finals.
“I remember the amount of pressure there was on all the players when we were traveling, Thankfully, there was no social media back then. It would have been a nightmare, honestly. But through the airports, it was always just one thing – we need to win the Cup. The senior players were always under the pump and had to handle all that pressure. It was just brilliant. And that night (after the WC win) in itself was something magical,” Virat Kohli added.
