NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh recently opened up about an encounter with a young, self-doubting Virat Kohli and how he motivated the future cricketing superstar. Speaking during a media interaction, Harbhajan revealed that Kohli, early in his career, was unsure about his potential in Test cricket.
Harbhajan, known for his straightforward advice, recalled telling Kohli, “If you don’t score 10,000 Test runs, I’ll be very disappointed.” These words struck a chord with Kohli, who was still navigating his way through the complexities of international cricket at the time.
According to Harbhajan, Kohli’s response reflected his own uncertainty, but the off-spinner had no doubts about Kohli’s capabilities. “I told him, ‘You have all the talent in the world, you just need to believe in yourself.’ He took that to heart,” Harbhajan said.
Today, Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the world, with a formidable record in all formats of the game, including over 8,000 Test runs and counting. Harbhajan expressed pride in Kohli’s journey, highlighting how those early conversations contributed to his growth as a player.
