06 May, 2025 | 01:52 PM

In a heartfelt revelation on Royal Challengers Bengaluru's podcast Bold and Beyond, Virat Kohli opened up about the early influences that shaped his cricketing journey, singling out former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher as the most impactful figure during his formative years at RCB.

Despite sharing the dressing room with Indian legends like Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble during the inaugural IPL season in 2008, it was Boucher’s proactive mentorship that left a lasting impression on a young Kohli. "Out of all the players that I played with initially, Mark Boucher had the biggest impact on me as a young kid," Kohli said.

According to Kohli, Boucher took an unprompted interest in his game, identifying technical weaknesses and helping him improve, especially against the short ball. "He said, 'You need to work on the short ball. No one's going to give you a chance in international cricket if you can't pull the ball,'" Kohli recalled. Boucher drilled him with tennis balls in the nets at high speed, pushing Kohli to embrace discomfort and grow.

The effort paid off. Later in 2008, Kohli made his ODI debut in Sri Lanka, albeit briefly, filling in for an injured Sachin Tendulkar. However, Kohli’s real test came during the 2009 Champions Trophy, when he was drafted in at the last minute due to Yuvraj Singh's injury. Recalling his first India-Pakistan match, Kohli admitted he was overwhelmed. "I scored about 16... I just could not sleep. I was awake till five in the morning, staring at the ceiling. I was like, 'This is it. I've just messed it all up.'"

Despite early struggles and self-doubt, Kohli's determination to improve and find consistency has defined his career. Reflecting on his evolution, he spoke about adapting to the changing landscape of T20 cricket. “In the last couple of seasons, I have consciously made an effort to evolve my game... you have to push through and again get to the point where you say, just hit the ball.”

Kohli's mental shift was evident during the 2024 T20 World Cup. After scoring just 75 runs in nine innings, he rose to the occasion in the final against South Africa, anchoring India with a gritty 76 off 59 balls after walking in under pressure at 34 for 3. His knock helped India post 176, which they narrowly defended to lift the trophy.

“I was walking in with no confidence,” he said. “Then I get three balls, I get three boundaries and I’m like, what is this game? One day you can’t get a run, and suddenly everything clicks.”

Kohli emphasized that preparation, not outcome, remains the cricketer’s only responsibility. "The preparation is in my hands. The results are not in my hands... I just have to stay true to my instinct."

From self-doubt in 2009 to delivering under pressure in a World Cup final, Kohli’s journey continues to be one of reinvention, resilience, and raw determination—qualities that found their roots in a net session with Mark Boucher 17 years ago.