Lucknow: The Lucknow Sports Journalists Association (LSJA) organised a special felicitation ceremony on Wednesday to honour Rajkumar Sharma, the childhood coach of Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli. The event saw the participation of journalists, cricket enthusiasts and several prominent figures from the sports fraternity.
Rajkumar Sharma was felicitated for his exceptional contribution to Indian cricket and for shaping Virat Kohli into a world-class cricketer. Speakers highlighted that Sharma was not only Kohli’s first coach but also the one who recognised his talent at an early age and guided him with discipline, dedication and vision.
They emphasised that Sharma’s coaching laid the strong foundation that later enabled Kohli to become one of the most successful batsmen in world cricket. His role, they noted, reflects the immense value of grassroots mentorship in nurturing future stars.
Representatives of LSJA said that coaches like Rajkumar Sharma are the “true heritage of Indian cricket” and serve as an inspiration for emerging players across the country. The felicitation, they added, has not only made Lucknow’s sporting community proud but also motivated young cricketers to pursue excellence with hard work and commitment.
LSJA Secretary S.M. Arshad, President Dharmendra Pandey, and other office-bearers were present at the ceremony. The event was conducted by association founder-member Divya Nautiyal.
The occasion was graced by former Ranji cricketers Yusuf Ali, Ishrat Ali, Gopal Singh, former international cricketer R.P. Singh Sr., Alok Puri, Manish Mehrotra (Director, Galaxy Sports) and others.
