- By Himanshu Badola
- Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Virat Kohli has been an intense performer for the Indian cricket team over the years and has been known for his contributions full of passion and aggression on the field.
Kohli's on-field presence is a spectacle in itself, an aura charged with intensity and relentless competitiveness. Senior India pacer and Kohli's long-time teammate and friend Ishant Sharma recently came up with interesting comments while talking about the former skipper's aggressive body language, sharp stares, and animated celebrations, which are enough as tactical weapons to unsettle opponents and create an atmosphere of pressure.
Ishant, who has been out of the Indian setup for a while now, said that he believed every senior cricketer carried that aura of greatness. But with experience, he realised only Virat is the one person who truly stood out.
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"See, when I first started playing, I used to feel everyone had that vibe, everyone was a legend. Later on, when I played, I felt that with just one person, Virat Kohli. He is one such player who gives off a complete Gangster vibe when he walks onto the pitch to play. He shows full authority, like he's saying, 'I've arrived on the pitch, '" Ishant said on Raj Shamani's podcast.
Kohli, who was last seen in action during the IPL 2025, thrives on confrontation, often turning every contest into a psychological battle where his energy fuels teammates and unnerves rivals, making him not just a batsman but a force that commands the field.
Ishant pointed out Kohli's remarkable mental toughness, sharing a personal memory of a Ranji Trophy match where Kohli turned up to bat despite the devastating loss of his father. Notably, Ishant remained a key part of India's fast bowling lineup in Test cricket for years under Virat's captaincy tenure.
"His attitude was like that: I am here, I will get the job done. Nothing outside has affected his game. Whatever is happening outside, he knows that when he is on the field, he will score runs come what may. He has always been like that. Even if he has come back at 2 AM or 3 AM or batted overnight, the next day he would go out and score," Ishant remembered.
Ishant went on to reveal that the batting stalwart hasn't changed a bit despite the stardom. "With me, the kind of relationship we share, he(Virat) never changed for me. We've been playing together since U-17, so, you know, we are 36 now, I think he'll be 36 soon. So, we've been playing together for, I don't know, for even, you know, more than 10 years, 15 years. So, he hasn't changed for me. I can pick up my phone, call him anytime, and he calls me anytime."
Having already retired from the T20I and Test formats, Kohli has set his eyes on his much-awaited ODI return. The veteran batter is expected to make his comeback alongside Rohit Sharma during the away ODI series against Australia.