No matter what happens, Virat's belief system never changes: Nayar
New Delhi, July 16
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has highlighted Virat Kohli's unwavering belief in his own methods as the defining trait behind the batting great's sustained success, recalling a conversation with the former India captain during a difficult phase in Australia.
Sharing the anecdote while reflecting on Kohli's mentality, Nayar said the 36-year-old's confidence in his process never wavered despite a string of low scores, a quality he believes separates the game's elite from everyone else.
Nayar revealed that he reached out to Kohli after the batter endured a difficult ODI series in Australia, where he registered two ducks. Having only recently moved on from the Indian team setup, Nayar remained in contact with Kohli and wanted to check on how he was coping with the lean spell.
"I've known Virat for a really long time, but one thing I realised in the recent past is that the reason Virat Kohli is Virat Kohli is because of the belief systems he has. No matter what happens, that belief never changes," Nayar told JioStar.
According to Nayar, Kohli's response reflected the calmness and conviction that have become synonymous with his career as he stated, "When Virat was struggling in Australia and had those two ducks in the ODI series, I'd just come out of the Indian team, so we were still in touch. I asked him if everything was okay and whether there was anything he wanted to talk about. He simply said, 'No, all good. It's part of the game.'"
Wanting to share a technical observation, Nayar sought Kohli's permission before offering his thoughts. The former India captain, however, politely declined, choosing to trust his own instincts, but Kohli's subsequent performance only reinforced Nayar's admiration for his mindset.
"I then said, 'I have an observation. Do you want to hear it?' He smiled and replied, 'No, I'll do it my way.' I laughed. After the next game, I got the answer, 'I did it my way'," Nayar revealed.
For Nayar, the episode perfectly encapsulates what distinguishes players who consistently deliver at the highest level. He believes champions rely on years of experience and an unshakeable faith in their own process, especially when results are not going their way. He also explains that experiences like these have only deepened his admiration for two of India's modern-day batting icons.
"For me, that is the hallmark of Virat Kohli. The great players know how to do it when the going gets tough. We can analyse, imagine and envision, but they've done it repeatedly at the highest level. That's why my respect for players like Virat and Rohit is so much," he stated.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a cricket fan, I appreciate Nayar sharing this insight. But honestly, sometimes I feel Kohli's stubbornness can be a double-edged sword. Remember 2020-21 in Australia when he kept playing those cover drives outside off stump and kept getting out? Maybe listening to advice once in a while wouldn't hurt. But credit to him, he always bounces back.
Great mentality from Kohli. That's what separates the greats from the good. In Australia, I've seen players like Steve Smith and Ricky Ponting have similar attitudes - you don't become one of the all-time greats by second-guessing yourself after every failure. Respect to the King! 🐐
The "I did it my way" part gave me chills! That's the Virat we all love. But I wonder how many young cricketers would benefit from having that kind of confidence in themselves. Nayar is right - the elite players just know how to handle tough times. Hope we see more such stories from the dressing room.
Great anecdote. This reminds me of Sachin Tendulkar's approach too - he would never change his technique based on a few failures. That's why both of them have such amazing records. Kohli's hunger is unmatched, even at 36. If only he could captain India again for the next World Cup... 🙏
As someone who's followed Kohli since his U19 days, this story doesn't surprise me at all. His confidence has always been his superpower. But I also think Nayar
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