(Image source from: Aajkaal.in)

Virat Kohli decided to resign as India's Test captain in January 2022, a choice that disappointed numerous fans. Over his seven-year leadership, the right-handed batsman guided India to 40 victories in 68 Test matches, making him one of the most successful captains in this format. A few months before stepping down from the Test captaincy, Kohli also gave up his role as T20I captain and was later replaced as the ODI captain. Recently, the 37-year-old shared insights about what led to his decision, explaining what ultimately made him resign from the captaincy. While attending the third edition of the RCB Innovation Lab's Indian Sports Summit, Kohli acknowledged that the captaincy had taken a toll on him without him noticing. "I found myself in a situation where I became the central figure in our batting and leadership. I was not aware of how much pressure both aspects placed on my daily life because I was so eager and determined to keep Indian cricket at the forefront. That is why, by the time I stepped down from leadership, I was utterly exhausted. I was entirely absorbed by it. It was tough. It was hard to handle everyone's expectations," Kohli commented.

"The main focus during my best years was ensuring the team felt secure. I didn’t want any feelings of insecurity to affect the changing room. For that, I owe a lot to the management - Ravi Shastri and the team. However, form doesn’t stay consistent for long, and those responsibilities began to weigh heavily on me. So, it was challenging," he continued. He also admitted that he experienced a tough period after resigning from the captaincy but expressed deep gratitude to Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour for helping him find joy in playing cricket again. "Only after I stepped down from captaincy did I feel comfortable enough to open up and talk more with people like Rahul Bhai and Vikram Rathour. I had a fantastic year in Test cricket in 2023, and whenever I see them, I always sincerely thank them. They truly supported me in a way that motivated me to play for them. I genuinely wanted to perform and give it my all. Their care and support helped me realize everything I had achieved so far," Kohli shared.