Virat Kohli Opens Up On Burnout, Rahul Dravid’s Support, Toughest ODI Bowler And Mental Pressure

Virat Kohli candidly revealed the emotional exhaustion behind his relentless cricketing journey while crediting Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour for helping him rediscover joy and balance in the game.

For years, Virat Kohli appeared almost untouchable on the cricket field. His intensity, unmatched fitness standards and hunger for excellence defined an era of Indian cricket. However, during a private session at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit powered by Leaders in Bengaluru, the former India captain revealed a far more vulnerable and emotional side of himself.

Seated calmly at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence RCB’s Innovation Lab, Kohli reflected deeply on the emotional burden of maintaining elite standards year after year. While his performances rarely allowed glimpses of weakness, the modern-day great admitted that the pressure of constantly staying at the top slowly drained him mentally.

“Actually, no one’s really asked me this question ever. Basically, I ended up being in a place where I didn’t realize how often no one presented in my daily life, to be honest. But because I was so driven and motivated to make sure that everything stayed on course, and as I say, my partner and I kept the absolute peak expectations. Yes, I could lose the manual expectations of the things.”

Kohli’s words offered a rare insight into the emotional fatigue he carried through years of leadership, expectations and scrutiny while remaining Indian cricket’s emotional engine.

Kohli Credits Rahul Dravid And Vikram Rathour For Supporting Him Mentally

During the interaction, Kohli openly praised former India head coach Rahul Dravid and batting coach Vikram Rathour for helping him navigate difficult phases mentally.

“I wanted to do well for them. To be able to take responsibility and maintain a culture of what’s great and what’s not.”

He further elaborated on how their understanding and emotional support helped him reconnect with the game during a challenging period in his career.

“Rahul bhai and Vikram Rathour. I’ve said this many times. They really took care of me in a way that made me feel like I want to perform for them, As a player, you’re on a very thin line between being cautious and being insecure. It’s always in the back of my mind that you have to keep up to your own standards”.

Kohli also expressed gratitude once again while speaking about the bond he shared with them during his toughest cricketing phase.

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“I had a great phase and whenever I meet them, I thank them from the bottom of my heart because they took care of me in a way that made me feel like I wanted to play for them. They understood what I was feeling and genuinely took care of me mentally. That put me in a space where I could enjoy my cricket again”.

The comments shed light on the emotional challenges behind Kohli’s lean patch between 2020 and 2022, a period where discussions mostly revolved around technique and form rather than mental fatigue.

Virat Kohli Speaks On Self-Control, Burnout And Respect For Hockey Players

Kohli also reflected on the importance of emotional control and self-awareness in sustaining excellence at the highest level of sport.

“Every step that we took, thankfully, I’ve been able to be at my own best. It actually takes control of yourself. And that’s what he said, I feel I have.”

For a player whose identity has long revolved around aggression and competitiveness, Kohli’s emphasis on emotional balance stood out strongly. His reflections challenged the culture where athletes are often celebrated for endlessly pushing themselves while rarely acknowledging burnout and mental exhaustion.

Kohli further opened up about the constant mental battle elite athletes face, admitting that insecurity and self-doubt never completely disappear, regardless of achievements or experience. Speaking honestly about the pressure of maintaining standards over nearly two decades, he said,

“As players, you’re always walking a very thin line between being cautious and being insecure. You constantly feel like you’re never good enough — that imposter syndrome is always there. Even today, when I go into the nets, I still think: these youngsters are watching. If I have a bad session, they’ll probably wonder, ‘Is this the guy who’s been playing for 20 years?’ That thought is always there.”

Kohli’s words reflected the psychological burden of constantly performing under scrutiny while trying to live up to the standards he set for himself throughout his legendary career.

Kohli also shared insights into the toughest bowlers he has faced across formats, underlining the respect he holds for world-class opponents who challenged him consistently over the years.

During the interaction, the former India captain named some of the finest bowlers of the modern era while discussing how different formats demand different skills and mental adjustments from batters.

Kohli stated, “[The toughest bowler I’ve faced] In ODIs, it would be Adil Rashid, in Test cricket, it would be James Anderson in England, and in T20s, it would be Sunil Narine.”

The admission highlighted the immense challenge posed by Rashid’s variations in white-ball cricket, Anderson’s mastery in English conditions, and Narine’s mystery spin in the shortest format.

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The former India skipper also used the platform to praise Indian hockey players for their extraordinary physical conditioning.

“We’re not even 15% of the fitness of an Indian hockey player, they should be celebrated more”

As Royal Challengers Bengaluru prepare for the final stages of IPL 2026, Kohli’s honesty around mental pressure, self-awareness and leadership has added another dimension to his legacy beyond just numbers and trophies.