Virat Kohli hardly wants the life he lives in India, says former RCB teammate

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) recruit Liam Livingstone has opened up about his experience of sharing a dressing room with Virat Kohli, saying the Indian superstar’s off-field persona is the complete opposite of his fierce on-field identity. Livingstone, who was part of the RCB squad during their victorious 2025 campaign, hinted that Kohli is tiring of the intense public scrutiny that has dogged him for most of the last decade.

In an interview on YouTube channel The Overlap Cricket, the England international detailed the stark contrast between Kohli as a competitor and Kohli as a person.

“He was amazing. I always played against Virat and he was always laughing,” Livingstone said.

“If you want to test somebody, he’ll give it back. But on the field, he’s ultra-competitive. Once he crosses that line, he’s a different person.” “But on the field he’s a really nice, chill guy, he loves spending time with his family. A very chill guy,” added Livingstone, reflecting on Kohli’s natural demeanor.

“It’s almost like he doesn’t want that life, he lives in India. He doesn’t really want to be watched all the time. He’s a really nice guy.”

Livingstone echoed the intensity that defines Kohli’s professional performance, adding: “When he gets on the field, he’s the most competitive player I’ve ever seen.”

Kohli has made a conscious choice to keep a low profile in the last few years. The former India captain primarily resides in London, where he has moved with his family, including his wife Anushka Sharma and their children. He returns to India selectively for official cricket engagements, business engagements and spiritual tours.

VIRT KOHLI’S SWITCH

Apart from the personal dynamism, Livingstone also praised the RCB team management for actively unlocking Kohli’s aggressive abilities during the overs. Historically a firm believer in executing the lead role in T20 cricket, Kohli has shifted his plan from the 2024 season onwards to play at a significantly higher pace. During the recent IPL 2026 season, amassed 675 runs at a strike rate of 165.84marking a substantial increase of 31 runs per hundred balls from his career. This deliberate aggression made Kohli take more risks against the restrictions on the pitch and attack the bowlers more often.

This tactical overhaul was a big success and helped Bengaluru secure back-to-back IPL trophies.

“Mo (Bobat) and Andy (Flower) went and changed the way he played. They were brave enough to do it,” Livingstone revealed.

“He’s extremely competitive on the field… but away from cricket he’s just a nice, easy-going guy who loves his family.”

Liam Livingstone shares an insight into the two sides of Virat Kohli, his desire for a normal life away from the limelight and how coaching upgrades are unlocked. pic.twitter.com/MzlKoW8lDR— The Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) June 4, 2026

“They asked him to be a little more aggressive, hit more sixes and continue that aggression in the powerplay. “You see him playing in the power bowl now and he’s a lot more aggressive than he used to be. Even against spin, he’s hitting more shots than he’s ever played,” Livingstone added.

Virat Kohli has reportedly been ruled out the upcoming ODi series against Afghanistan starting on May 14. The former captain is expected to return to the senior national team for their ODI series in England in July.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

June 4, 2026 7:30 PM IST