“Reaping What He Had Sown”: Ex-India Star’s Blunt Take on Amit Mishra’s Remarks About Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bangalore celebrates during match 58 of the Indian Premier League season 17 (IPL 2024) between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore held at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala on the 9th May 2024. Photo by Ron Gaunt / Sportzpics for IPL

Lucknow Super Giants spinner Amit Mishra’s recent comments about Indian cricket star Virat Kohli have ignited a significant debate. During a podcast, Mishra suggested that Kohli’s immense power and fame have altered his personality, leading to a strained relationship between the two. As Mishra’s statements gained traction, social media became a battleground with supporters of Kohli defending him and others criticizing the spinner.

Former India batter Robin Uthappa, who was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, praised Kohli for his hard work and personal growth. Uthappa highlighted Kohli’s transformation from a brash young player to a mature and evolved individual.

“I have actually seen Virat evolve from a brash young Delhi boy to an evolved human being. The evolution has been quite tremendous, to be honest. Today he’s practically reaping what he had sown 15 years ago. One of the things that has always stood out to me about Cheeku has been his conviction in himself,” Uthappa said on cricket.com/tv.

Reflecting on Kohli’s early confidence, Uthappa added, “When I listen to a young 19-year-old Virat Kohli talking about himself or his conviction in himself, you’ll be like ‘What is this dude talking about?’ But fast forward 10 years and you’ll be like ‘Okay, now that makes sense.'”

Kohli, who has faced scrutiny over his recent performance, has a legacy of immense contributions to Indian cricket. Despite challenges, he remains a key figure, and many believe his experience and skill will see him return to peak form.

Punjab Kings batter Shashank Singh also expressed his support for Kohli, sharing a personal anecdote from the IPL. Singh recounted an enlightening conversation with Kohli that left a lasting impression.

“He was standing, I was standing. We were standing for 40 minutes. I didn’t even know when 40 minutes passed. Our team position was 12:45. It was 12:40, I didn’t know when 40 minutes passed. And we were talking about cricket, about technique, about shots, about mental chatter,” Singh told InsideSport.

Singh praised Kohli’s approachable and helpful nature. “The way he was answering, it felt like, keep doing it, keep doing it. It felt like he is one of our Chhattisgarh players. He was so friendly, talking to me to help me understand. It felt so good to talk to him,” he added.

The debate over Mishra’s remarks and the support for Kohli underscore the complexities of cricketing careers and the respect owed to players who have given their all to the sport. As the cricketing world continues to discuss these comments, Kohli’s dedication and contributions remain a significant part of his enduring legacy.