Virat Kohli has still not forgotten that first entry into the Indian dressing room, 'had to touch Sachin's feet'
Delhi: Although there are many interesting stories of the dressing room, but especially if we talk about Indian cricket, then there is no story like Virat Kohli coming to the Indian team for the first time. This is as fun to read as it is inspiring.
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When Virat Kohli came to the Indian team for the first time and then got a chance to sit with the great legends of his time in the team dressing room, the biggest question before him was that till now he was learning something new by reading about the seniors. Now, what would it be like to sit with them? This is about the 2008 Sri Lanka tour and Virat was not even 20 years old then. Virat's problem was sensed by the two 'evil' seniors of the team (Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh) and instead of helping Virat, they put him in more trouble.
These two seniors played mischief and told Virat that whichever new player comes to the Indian team, he first touches the feet of Sachin Tendulkar in the dressing room. Even Virat did not find it wrong to do this for a big player like Tendulkar, hence he had no idea that an attempt was being made to pull his leg. So he did exactly that and when Sachin entered the dressing room, he touched his feet. Shocked Sachin asked Virat the reason for touching his feet and Virat embarrassedly told the whole story. On hearing this, Sachin started laughing and told him that he had played mischief on his first day and there is no such tradition.
However, Sachin Tendulkar did not forget this fact and he not only mentioned it in his poem 'Playing My Way', when Virat broke a big record of his after a few years, he also mentioned this incident while congratulating him. Sachin then wrote- 'That day I could not stop laughing but soon, you touched my heart with your passion and skill. I am very happy that the young boy has become a 'Virat' player. I couldn't be happier that an Indian broke my record. And that too on the biggest stage – in the World Cup semi-finals, and to do it on my home ground is just icing on the cake.
The story of Virat Kohli's debut in the dressing room does not end here. Virat himself admits that he was very nervous that day. After that touching story, when all the players sat at their respective places, the team meeting started. Virat himself says, 'I remember the team meeting very well. The meeting had just started when I was asked to say something. The thought of speaking in front of so many great players made me more nervous. Everyone was looking at me.
Gradually, Virat came to understand that this always happens in the team to scare and harass the young players, but he never forgot these first memories.
Well, let us tell you that when Virat got the news of his selection in Team India for the first time, he was not able to believe it. He saw this news on television with his mother. Even when the name was flashing on the TV screen, they felt that perhaps they were spreading rumours. Five minutes later, a call came from the board and see Virat's reaction – 'I got goosebumps. I was trembling.'
Now there are many stories of Virat Kohli himself 'scaring' the young players and doing mischievous activities with them in the dressing room.
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