‘When I needed someone, he was there’: PV Sindhu recalls Virat Kohli’s comeback role

PV Sindhu credits Virat Kohli for the comeback (Image: Agencies) PV Sindhu has opened up about how her conversation with Virat Kohli helped her overcome one of the toughest phases of her career after a serious injury in 2025 and ultimately inspired a remarkable comeback that culminated in a historic Japan Open title.The two-time Olympic medalist suffered a torn ligament in her leg during training in September 2025, forcing her to cut the season short and focus solely on rehabilitation. Under the supervision of renowned sports orthopedist Dr. Dinshawa Pardiwala subjected Sindhu to three months of complete rest followed by an extensive rehabilitation programme.During this challenging period, Sindhu, accompanied by her husband Venkata Datta Sai, approached Kohli for guidance. The former Indian captain responded almost immediately and the trio met the very next day.Sindhu shared an emotional moment on X as she reposted her husband’s interview with The Indian Express and revealed how the encounter became a turning point in her recovery.“One thing I will always be grateful for is Virat bhai. I reached out to him at one of the weakest points of my career. Injuries were piling up, results weren’t coming and I needed someone who understood me. He replied within minutes and we met the very next day. What we talked about will always stay between us. But I will always be grateful for every word when I needed someone but he didn’t meet me much.” Some conversations change the way you see things,” Sindhu wrote on X.

Datta Sai reveals Kohli’s influence

In an interview with The Indian Express, Sindhu’s husband Venkata Datta Sai explained how Kohli’s words continued to inspire them during the recovery process. “We had to rebuild her joy and Virat’s words kept ringing in my head. At the Exos Sports Performance facility in Atlanta, she trained with three excellent trainers, Wayne, Tim and Rayan,” recalled Datta.

A historic victory at the Japan Open completes the comeback

The comeback reached a perfect climax on 19 July 2026 when Sindhu made history by winning the women’s singles title at the Japan Open, becoming the first Indian shuttler in any discipline to lift the prestigious crown in the tournament’s 43-year history. The 31-year-old, ranked 12th in the world going into the tournament, produced a clinical performance in the final at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium to beat home favorite and world No.3 Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in straight games.