Virat Kohli Reveals How Former South Africa Captain Had An Impact On Him Initially

Well before AB de Villiers, plenty of talented South African cricketers played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). One of them was former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who turned up for the franchise between 2008 and 2010. He also played in the 2009 final against Deccan Chargers.

Virat Kohli, who was just on the brink of playing for India back then, says that it was Boucher who had the most impact on him in his earlier days, and it is his advice that stuck with him as he went on to make his India debut after the first edition of the IPL.

"So he figured out what my weaknesses could be. If I wanted to go to the next level, this is what I need to do without me asking him anything. And he said, okay, I have seen you play this, that, and the other. We need to work on this, that and a couple more things. I was like, okay. So he took me to the nets," Kohli said on the RCB podcast.

"He said, you need to work on the short ball. No one is going to give you a chance in international cricket if you cannot pull the ball. And I remember it was in a game we were playing in Chennai or Kolkata, one of the venues, where he told me that when I come to commentate in India four years from now, if I do not see you playing for India, you would do a disservice to yourself.

"He had a massive impact on me in those early years. I was very realistic about my abilities. Because I had seen a lot of other people play. And I did not feel like my game was anywhere close to theirs. The only thing that I had was the determination and the willingness that if I wanted to make my team win, I was willing to do anything."

Kohli also recalled his initial days in the Indian team, where he was heavily backed by skipper MS Dhoni and head coach Gary Kirsten.

"Gary and MS made it very clear to me that we are backing you to play at number 3, and this is what you can do for the team and what you represent on the field, your energy, your engagement, that is of biggest value for us. So I was asked to play that way. I was not seen as an outright match-winner. But I had this thing of I am going to stay in the fight. I am not going to give up. And that is what they backed. So that very thing that God blessed me with, that helped me to improve my game, my technique, everything," Kohli said.

Kohli is in top form in IPL 2025 and is the leading run-getter at the moment with 505 runs at a strike rate of 143.46. RCB are currently on top of the table, and already have one foot in the playoffs. A win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Lucknow on May 9 (Friday) could seal their place in the top four.