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India’s ace batter Virat Kohli has revealed that he experienced imposter syndrome after stepping down as captain of the national team in 2022.
Kohli credited Rahul Dravid and former batting coach Vikram Rathour for supporting him during a difficult phase of his career.
“I’ve said this many times about Rahul bhai and Vikram Rathour. I had a great phase in Test cricket, and whenever I meet them, I thank them from the bottom of my heart because they took care of me in a way that made me feel like I wanted to play for them,” Kohli said during an RCB event.
“I wanted to perform, grind it out, and do the hard work because they were so caring and nurturing. They reminded me of everything I had done so far – something you never really sit down and think about as a player,” he added.
The right-hander revealed that he experienced imposter syndrome after stepping down as captain of the Indian team, explaining that athletes often walk a thin line between caution and insecurity.
“As players, you’re always walking a very thin line between being cautious and being insecure. You constantly feel like you’re never good enough – that imposter syndrome is always there,” Kohli highlighted.
Impostor syndrome is the persistent, internalized belief that a successful person still feels they are not good enough or don’t deserve their success. They often think they achieved everything by luck and fear others will find out they are not as capable as they seem.
Virat spoke about the pressure during the net sessions, especially knowing that younger players are watching him.
“Even today, when I go into the nets, I still think: these youngsters are watching. If I have a bad session, they’ll probably wonder, ‘Is this the guy who’s been playing for 20 years?’ That thought is always there,” Kohli admitted.
He further stated that leadership requires individuals to focus less on themselves and more on others, adding that he rarely thought about his own well-being during his years as captain.
“The reason you’re given a leadership role is because people believe you can take on more and still manage it. In many ways, leadership is more about management than even coaching. It’s about understanding the people playing with you and for you, and figuring out how to get the best out of them,” the 38-year-old said.
Kohli said that after reflecting on his journey, he realized almost no one had asked about his well-being for nearly nine years.
“To do that, you constantly have to be in a space where you’re not focused on yourself. You don’t even think about whether someone is going to ask you, ‘Are you okay?’ That thought doesn’t even cross your mind.”
“I did look back and realise that no one had really asked me that question for almost nine years – ‘How are you doing?” Kohli concluded.
For the unversed, Virat Kohli faced a turbulent period between 2020 and 2022, stemming from a prolonged lean patch, during which he failed to score a century across formats in 83 innings.
However, Kohli rediscovered his rhythm after stepping down from captaincy in 2022, making a remarkable comeback that culminated in a record-breaking run-scoring campaign at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
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