When Virat Kohli told his friend's mother 'Ek din bada aadmi banunga aur kisi heroine se shaadi karunga'

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IPL 2023: The mother of Virat Kohli's childhood friend Shalaj Sondhi has revealed that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star once told her that he would go on to become a massive celebrity and marry a film actress.

Ahead of RCB's match against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, Neha Sondhi revealed the anecdote when Kohli was an energetic kid and already dreaming to become a star India cricketer.

“One time there was a match at the Madan Lal Academy and there was a big film or ad poster outside the venue. Virat saw that picture and told me, 'Dekhna main ek din itna bada aadmi banunga aur kisi heroine se shaadi karunga’,” Neha Sondhi has said in a video posted by the RCB on Friday.

Shalaj’s mother also revealed how Kohli would ask her to bring his favourite dishes to the academy. “Virat ko chote aloo bohot pasand the. Tiffin bhar ke wo lekar jaati thi. Tiffin lekar bhaag jaata tha and sab bachche uske piche,” Neha Sondhi said.

Speaking on the same video, Kohli's childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma also recalled the early days of Kohli. He said the former India and RCB captain was "different" from other kids from the start. He said he won't get out by kids of his own age group and pestered him for days to play with senior boys at the academy.

An 'irritated' Rajkumar sent him to bat against a senior bowler one day and he was hit on his chest. His mother came the other day and requested the coach to not allow him to face seniors but Kohli remained adamant.

“On May 30, 1998, he came to me with his brother and his father. Within a few days we could see that he was very different from others, very active, very hyper and very naughty guy. He was very determined and dedicated, he wanted to dominate from Day 1.

He had tremendous self belief that I can do anything. Shalaj and Virat were very thick friends from my academy,” Rajkumar Sharma said.

"When he came, I put him in the junior group below 10 or 11. So he never used to get out from them. So he came to me and used to ask me 'Sir, I want to play with the elders'. So I used to say you are too young and go and play with your age group.

"He would say they can't get me out. So one day I got a little annoyed and irritated and told him to pad up. He played well but one ball unfortunately hit him on the chest. He tried to not show it to anybody but when he went to his house, his mother saw it.

"Next day she came and said, 'No Sir, let him play in his own age group'. He refused and said to his mother that he will play in the senior zone only. He was a special talent, a god-gifted talent," he added.