‘Imposter syndrome is always there’: Virat Kohli makes a massive revelation

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli has openly said that he struggles with “impostor syndrome” despite being one of the most successful cricketers in the world. Speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab India Sports Summit in Bengaluru, Kohli admitted that self-doubt still affects him after nearly 20 years at the highest level of cricket.“As players, you always walk a very fine line between caution and uncertainty. You constantly feel like you’re never good enough – that impostor syndrome is always there,” Kohli said.He added: “Even today, when I go to the net, I still think: these youngsters are watching. If I have a bad session, they will probably wonder, ‘Is this the guy who has been playing for 20 years?’ That thought is always there.”Kohli revealed that former India head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour played a huge role in helping him mentally after he stepped down as captain. Kohli said the pressure of leading India across formats was draining him emotionally, especially during his difficult Test phase between 2020 and 2022.“Rahul bhai understood because he himself had experienced it at the highest level. Vikram was also there for years. They understood what I was feeling and honestly took care of me mentally. That put me in a space where I could enjoy my cricket again,” Kohli said.Kohli also spoke candidly about how managing has affected his mental well-being. He said captains often focus so much on the team that they ignore themselves.“I looked back and realized that in almost nine years no one had asked me that question – ‘How are you?’Despite the emotional challenges, Kohli said he will still approach management in the same way. He also advised young cricketers not to focus too much on managing workload at the start of their careers and instead understand their true limits first.