There is gulf to differentiate Virat and me, except for age probably where we are close but there my numbers are better and I beat him 😁
I remember his days from 2008-09 RCB IPL days, always put my money on him and it used to be zero sum game mostly. Always had this feeling that this street smart, oozing with talent kid will not make a legend. Appreciated him on field for his exploits but had very little respect for his vituperative celebrations – Sachin defined the perfect champion for the conservative Indians – put your head down, work till you drop, let your work and not words speak.
Kohli’s growth on field as a player and a captain has been accretive, he has worked really hard for it. The hubris has given way to team as a whole, he has taken the warp & weft of captaincy and Indian representation like duck to water. The hyper active boy is gradually metamorphing into equanimous matured leader and that defines him as a player.
What I have personally come to appreciate is how well has he taken the mantle of being an ideal role model to the youngsters. Be his choice of Brands, his choice of words to media, the way he chooses to talk about his life off the field – Absolute deference!
In great munificence, he has come to define the new India – liberated in freedom of thoughts, expressions, and actions. While keeping the core intact, that of repect for elders, traditions, that of being a true Indian.
His apperance in Manyavar Ad is pleasing, he has nailed multiple issues in a single shot – respect of women, equality of gender, grandness of celebration and much more.
His latest act of not endorsing Soft Drink majors and fairness creams in future is laudable. That is letting go off a lot of money from the table for a sportsman who has a limited shelf life.
This is not an atonement, this is progression of a man who intends and will in times to come become not a just a legend for sports but for causes much grander. With this single masterstroke, he has elevated his respect several notches up.
Mind you, the man is still in nascency of his journey but he is learning and internalizing at blitzing pace.
He doesn’t show off his six packs for the sculpt of his physique he does it for reemerging culture of fitness and well being that new India is again waking up to. We did lose it for sometime in the last decade, let’s admit that.
He doesn’t talk about his diet to project exclusivity. It’s rather talking about his devotion to the Sport that he is so passionate about and how letting go his temptations are helping him get greater pleasure from his profession and extending it. It’s more of a scarifice and discipline than anything else.
I always had second thoughts if I ever will exemplify him to my kids, that thought is melting though. I might as well do it. For he has started being the enterprising India, ever questioning India, the rebellious India, Making a point India, and giving it back India.
Don’t you let us down now!
Leave a Reply