Chennai: Not so long ago, Virat Kohli’s interactions with the media ended up, more often than not, ruffling a few feathers. The Indian Test skipper would hold no punches whenever he took on his critics. Of late, however, Kohli seems to have found a knack in handling the media.
In a press conference here to promote the country’s first Futsal league, Kohli didn’t take questions on cricket — a common practice at all promotional events — but he eventually answered a couple of them.
Even though the moderator tried her best to dissuade a reporter from completing a cricket question, Kohli intervened to say he would answer it. “Do you think the law of averages would catch up with you on the West Indies tour?” Kohli, who has been at the peak of his form, was asked.
Even though the ace batsman wasn’t too pleased with the query, he went on to answer with a smile on his face. “One can’t guarantee what’s going to happen. Something unusual might happen. Even I will be waiting to find out how I am going to play. Let’s see how it goes. My intention, always, is to give 120 per cent on the field. That’s exactly what I am going to do. The results are not in my hands,” said Kohli adding that he is enjoying time off the game.
Kohli said he wouldn’t disclose his bowling plans for the West Indies tour. “The five-bowler theory depends on the conditions we are playing in and the kind of bowlers we have in the squad. I will not disclose my plans here obviously because we still have a month to go. And I don’t want the oppositions to start planning,” he added.
A self-confessed football fan, Kohli said he loved every minute of his recent meeting with Portugal football legend Luis Figo.
“We all have perceptions about big personalities. But only when you meet them personally, do you understand them. I interacted at a very personal level with Figo without anyone watching us. He is one of the biggest names in football but he comes across a humble man.
“He didn’t want anyone helping him around. He wanted to do everything by himself. That was something I learnt from him. They say, the higher you
go the more humble you should be. I always try to learn a few things when I meet legends,” he added.
