Suffered depression: Virat Kohli opens up on mental health issues in cricket world

“Yes, I did…”, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has recently revealed that he battled depression.

By: Satata Karmakar | Edited by: Satata Karmakar | | Published: February 20, 2021 12:25 pm

Virat Kohli opens up fighting mental health issues in cricket world

“Yes, I did…”, Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli has recently revealed that he battled depression. Also Read - COVID-19 mental health fallout: Women more stressed than men during the lockdown

Speaking to former England player Mark Nicholas on his ‘Not Just Cricket’ podcast, Kohli shared his experience with fighting depression during a harrowing tour of England in 2014 where he felt like the “loneliest guy in the world” after a string of failures with the bat. Also Read - Over 40 % Indians suffering from depression triggered by COVID-19 pandemic: Survey

“…it’s not a great feeling to wake up knowing that you won’t be able to score runs and I think all batsmen have felt that at some stage that you are not in control of anything at all,” he recalled. Also Read - How pesticide exposure affects your brain and leads to depression

Virat Kohli On Feeling Alone In The Cricket Tour

Kohli had a disastrous tour of England in 2014, registering scores of 1, 8, 25, 0, 39, 28, 0,7, 6 and 20 in five Tests, averaging 13.50 in his 10 innings. He roared back to form in the tour of Australia after that, accumulating 692 runs in the Test series.

“You just don’t understand how to get over it. That was a phase when I literally couldn’t do anything to overturn things…I felt like I was the loneliest guy in the world,” he said of the England tour.

Virat Kohli Bats For Professional Help For Cricketers

Kohli remembered feeling alone despite the fact that there were supportive people in his life. He said professional help was what he needed.

“Personally, for me, that was a revelation that you could feel that lonely even though you a part of a big group. I won’t say I didn’t have people who I could speak to but not having a professional to speak to who could understand what I am going through completely, I think is a huge factor.

“I think I would like to see it change.”

“Mental Health Issues Can Destroy A Person’s Career…”

The India captain, considered one of the best batsmen in modern cricket, believes mental health issues cannot be overlooked as they can destroy a person’s career.

“Someone whom you can go to at any stage, have a conversation around and say ‘Listen this is what I am feeling, I am finding it hard to even go to sleep, I feel like I don’t want to wake up in the morning. I have no confidence in myself, what do I do?’

“Lot of people suffer from that feeling for longer periods of time, it carries on for months, it carries on for a whole cricket season, people are not able to get out of it,” Kohli said.

“I strongly feel the need for professional help there to be very honest,” he added.

Kohli is currently in Ahemdabad for the ongoing home Test series against England. The two teams have won a game each and will compete in the third Test from February 24.

Fondly remembering his growing-up days, Kohli said the Indian team of ’90s had really inspired him to take up the sport.

“The Indian team of the ’90s really opened up my imagination about what could be done with the sport because it is so different from anything else I had seen before. It just instilled a lot of faith and belief in me that magical things can be done if an individual believes or decides,” he said.

“That’s where the spark started…the dream of wanting to play for the country really started.”

Virat Kohli’s ‘Most Impactful’ Incident Of His Life

Kohli lost his biggest supporter, his father Premchand, at the age of 18 and he considers it as the “most impactful” incident of his life.

“…that incident really put things in proper perspective for me. My father did work very hard in the initial days to make sure that I get the best cricket gear or I continue with my cricket practice.

“From there on it made my belief even stronger that come what may, I am definitely going to realise my dream to play at the highest level and represent my country,” he said.

Kohli is seen as a tough, competitive, and enigmatic character on the field and he revealed that in real life too he is no different.

“…the disconnect for many years now is people don’t seem to understand, don’t seem to process, a lot of the times is that I have never worked towards creating a perception for myself which is perfect from a worldly point of view.

“For me what matters is what I can do as an individual and how much I can provide on the cricket field as an individual,” he said.

“I cannot fabricate things to look good in front of a certain set of people. That’s just not who I am,” he asserted.

Another thing he hardly cares about is the expectations from him when he is on the field.

“Expectation is honestly a burden when you start thinking about it too much.”

(With inputs from Agencies)

Published : February 20, 2021 12:25 pm

Read Disclaimer

Attention night owls! Staying up late night can make you more prone to depression

COVID-19 mental health fallout: Women more stressed than men during the lockdown

Over 40 % Indians suffering from depression triggered by COVID-19 pandemic: Survey

How pesticide exposure affects your brain and leads to depression

Your social media posts may help in diagnosing diabetes, depression and more

Depression may increase risk of chronic diseases in women

About The health Site

Useful Links