Publisher : Bloomsbury, Rs 399
This book lends an insight into Virat Kohli both as a player and a pupil — aggressive, agile on the field, and simple, humble outside it. After reading this book, the readers will be so familiarised with the cricketer that it would seem as if the current captain of the Indian Test team might even be a next-door neighbour, writes Vineeta Pandey
A10-year-old boy, during an under-14 match in a Delhi school casually picked the ball off his legs, and sent it soaring over the midwicket for a six. For someone who was not even 10, it was a tremendous shot to play and a stroke worth getting noticed. Thereafter, began an extraordinary journey of an ordinary boy from Delhi — Virat Kohli — who today is one of the topmost players of the world.
Sports writer Vijay lokapally has very beautifully covered the journey of this cricketer who continues to write new chapters in the world of sports as he plays new tournaments. One also gets to know some interesting sides of the man through several anecdotes. In fact, minute details of Virat’s cricketing life has been put brilliantly in this book titled Driven that once you finish reading it you become so familiarised with the cricketer that you start believing the current captain of the Indian Test team might even be your next door neighbour. Aggressive, agile on the cricket field; simple, humble outside it.
Vijay lokapally has been a sports writer for several years and has seen many cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid coming to the top. He is usually not very liberal with his words when complimenting players and he can be rather brutal when criticising their game. So why did he chose to write about Virat in his maiden ventureIJ
“Because he is very different and a modern icon who is terrific in all formats of the game. He bats with authority and gives you great joy at the crease. He is very balanced and grounded,” lokapally said when I asked him about his interest in Virat. For a sports journalist who has seen a player grow from under 14 stage, it is easier to write about his progress.
lokapally has compiled several episodes that give an insight about Virat both as a player and a pupil. For instance, despite making it big in cricket, Virat remains down to earth and steps into Kotla grass whenever in Delhi to encourage the juniors. His generous side is displayed by the fact that on Teacher’s Day, Virat surprised his coach Raj Kumar by gifting him a Skoda Rapid. Raj Kumar was like father to Virat after senior Kohli’s death.
No story of success is complete without failures. Virat had his share of disappointments in selection due to nepotism, and ups and down on field. But all such low points only helped him rise further with a bigger thrust. He rose from failures — sometimes from getting out at five in one match to hitting a 50 or a century in another. He was even mocked at by U-15 selectors at one point of time but nothing changed his determination to excel.
His commitment was so strong that on the day his father died, a grieving Virat reported at the ground where he was playing a Ranji Trophy match for Delhi against Karnataka. Despite his captain Mithun Manhas asking him to go back, Virat took the crease to resume his innings and went to crematorium in the evening after his play.
His level of discipline and behaviour both on and off field was exemplary as narrated by his umpires, coaches and teammates to lokapally. One of the umpires who officiated his game narrated how during one of the under -15 friendly match, after having finished his batting, Virat walked up to him and sought permission to leave for some important work at home. “Honestly, he did not need umpire’s permission because it was just a friendly match. But it reflected his cricket grooming,” said Delhi umpire Devendra Sharma.
Very few know that due to his fancy hairstyle, Virat was given the nickname ‘Chikoo’ at a U-17 cricket tournament and the name stuck with him for quite some time.
Coming to his cricket journey, having started at an early age, Virat was touring the world by the age of 17. Playing matches in different countries provided Virat an opportunity to test his potential on a variety of pitches. However, he had his share of ups and down in game and at times faltered in crucial matches like the one in World Cup semifinal in 2011 between India and Pakistan at Mohali where the Prime Ministers of two countries had also watched the game. But then earlier, he had a sensational World Cup debut in 2011 with a century against Bangladesh.
Australia was always lucky for Virat where he not only got good scores but also gained in terms of maturity and confidence. Virat developed and derived aggressiveness from eight tests that he played in Australia and in the process made former Aussie skipper Ian Chappel a huge fan of his.
Inspired by Sachin Tendulkar, Virat took the game. Whenever in doubt, Virat did not hesitate in seeking help and counselling from seniors. Playing in Adelaide in 2014 against Australia, Virat was a stand in captain for injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He spoke to Sachin Tendulkar at length to overcome his fears and doubts and came up with two outstanding knocks of 115 and 141. Rest is history.