Virat Kohli’s Old “Not Here To Earn Respect” Video Goes Viral Amid Amit Mishra’s Allegations

Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has become a hot topic on social media following recent remarks by veteran Indian spinner Amit Mishra. Mishra’s comments, made during a YouTube podcast, included allegations that Kohli has changed due to ‘fame and power’ and accusations of abusive behavior towards Lucknow Super Giants teammates during an IPL 2023 game. In response, Kohli’s fans have fiercely defended their idol, pointing to the excellent camaraderie Kohli still shares with other former teammates like Ishant Sharma.

Amid this ongoing debate, an old video from India’s 2014 tour of Australia has resurfaced, stirring further discussion. During the series, Kohli became a frequent target of the Australian players, particularly Mitchell Johnson, leading to numerous verbal clashes on the field.

In a press conference, when asked about these verbal duels and the matter of ‘respect,’ Kohli made his stance clear. “I am out here to play cricket, not to earn anyone’s respect. As long as I’m scoring runs, I’m happy with it. If you like it, good,” he said. He further added, “I don’t really care what they think as far as respecting me or me respecting them. I’ve got a nice friendship with a few of them. But someone who says anything that comes to his mouth, I don’t respect.”

This video has gone viral amid the recent controversy, with fans using it to emphasize Kohli’s focus on performance over popularity.

In his chat with Shubhankar Mishra on the YouTube show ‘Unplugged,’ Amit Mishra shared his perspective on Kohli’s transformation over the years. “I have seen Virat change a lot. We had almost stopped talking. When you get fame and power, they think people are reaching out to them for a purpose. I was never one of those. I have known Cheeku since he was 14, when he used to eat Samosas, when he needed Pizza every night. But there is a huge difference in the Cheeku I knew and Virat Kohli the captain. Whenever he meets me, he is very respectful, but it’s obviously not the same anymore,” Mishra said.

As the debate continues, the resurfaced video adds another layer to the public’s understanding of Kohli’s attitude and approach to the game, emphasizing his relentless focus on cricket over personal perceptions.