Dubai: Navjot Singh Sidhu on Virat Kohli’s performance against Pakistan in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025:
“Character is not made in a crisis, it is exhibited. This is a man (Virat Kohli) with pedigree, with passion. And after this 100, I can say it with conviction that this man is playing for the next 2 or 3 years and he is getting another 10 or 15 hundreds. That, you take it from me. Because, you see, the ultimate litmus test for anyone is how he goes through the adverse times, how he embraces adversity. Last six months, there has been so much going on that he chose his moment. When he scored runs against Pakistan, people are not going to forget it for 10 years.”
Sanjay Bangar on Virat Kohli’s intent and dedication to the game:
“I think more than the work I put in, it’s about his hard work and his dedication to the game. Because he is a guy who leaves no stone unturned as far as preparation is concerned. He knew that he had to step up. He brought that intensity to his game and you could see it in his body language. You could see in the way his eyes lit up and that fire was burning there. He was hungry for runs and boy oh boy! Today was an innings of which we can certainly say what Navjot Singh Sidhu just said- another 3-4 years of international cricket, easily. Because if you can maintain that side of standards in terms of execution of pure skill and intent, you get a master class like this.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu on Virat Kohli as an inspiration and role model for youngsters:
“Look, when you assess Virat Kohli, what is his trademark? If I look at Sachin Tendulkar, it was always the back foot punch that he would give. Look at Gavaskar, the straight drive. When you look at Virat Kohli, it’s the cover drive. And when he gets his head on top of the ball and he’s cover driving beautifully, you know he’s back. If you look at the initial part of his innings, if you look at these drives, you know that this is the Virat Kohli of old. And to me, it’s the character that he exhibited when the chips were down. These are the people who’ve inspired the kid in the street. For the game to grow, you need role models, who are above everything. Virat Kohli is a once-in-a-generation cricketer, a ‘Kohinoor’. You must understand the value that he brings to international cricket- 99 innings, and an average of 89.6 in successful chases means that he handles pressure without allowing it to affect him. And the tougher it gets, the more he thrives in that situation. That’s the hallmark of a great cricketer.”
Sanjay Bangar on Virat Kohli’s batting approach and his trademark cover drive shot:
“It’s the subconscious. Because when you surrender to the subconscious knowing fully well that you are going to give your best as he said right on the field, then the game is going to reward you. And the harder you work, the game rewards you on the biggest of platforms. And for that sort of a character to have an average of 90 can only happen when you are built with nerves of steel and a character which is way above the individual. So, wonderful masterclass from Virat Kohli.”
Navjot Singh Sidhu on Rohit Sharma’s expression when Virat Kohli reached his 51st century:
“More than what Virat Kohli did, what I saw today was Rohit Sharma’s beaming face. When Virat Kohli scores that 100, you look at that face. No one can whistle a symphony, it takes an orchestra to play it. It’s a team game and when the team takes pride in a fellow countryman’s performance, that is a very good sign. That means that you’re a well-knit, cohesive unit playing as one family, taking pride in the other fellow. Taking pride in the other fellow is the inspiration for generation next. These two will pass on the baton. When they do it, it’s a matter of time. 3 years, 2 years, you could say that. You know, it’s easy to be a part of someone’s pain but to be a part of someone’s happiness, that is the sign of bonhomie and that is the sign of camaraderie. I look at those small things which in the end make a huge difference in a team game.”
Sanjay Bangar on how Virat Kohli planned his innings and game plan while chasing:
“Well, I think he waited for the ball today. He didn’t really, was on the front foot all the time. He waited for the ball to come to him, was aggressive self, was willing to cover the infield as well. But here against spin, what I saw in the first half of his innings, he was playing a lot of the back foot. And then once he got that confidence, then he started coming forward. He came forward to left arm spin and off spin. But against leg spin, he was happy to stay back. But once he sorts of figured him in, then he started getting on to the front foot as well. So, starting off the back foot and then gradually going on to the front foot as well.”
