Happy birthday Virat Kohli: Millions of Fans Praying for You and Runs Again from Your Bat

The journey from being a West Delhi 'chokra' (lad) to a sophisticated King in cricket, Virat Kohli has traversed the journey through sheer dint of hard work. As the former India captain, an icon, now struggling to score runs, turns 36 today, it is worth recalling how he made it big.

They say, players evolve, mature, and become mellow. No, Virat Kohli is not mellow and at the same time, he has learnt how to deal with heartless hacks, carping critics, and social media trolls. In fact, his inner calm is something that not all can see, for he is a 'failure,' at present, a liability in Test cricket.

In India, champions have to perform in every match and every series. If not, they are dubbed as useless, past prime, and a liability. Kohli has been described as a spent force in Indian Test cricket. This is a classic case of public memory being short. For, people have forgotten how important he was in the ICC T20 World Cup in the West Indies.

People have also forgotten all the runs and tons he has scored in every format - Tests, ODIs, T20 internationals. And, yes, how does one leave out the RCB connect, where he is worshipped as a deity for his exploits in the IPL?

Never mind, Kohli has learnt many things in life, including silence. The West Delhi boy was labelled as abusive. He still curses. Come on, he is human, and athletes do need to release and express themselves, as long as it does not invite penalties from the match referee.

A Kohli not cursing is like a John McEnroe on a tennis court not swearing at the chair umpire and line judges during his peak. Do not talk of moral science, abuse, and all that with Kohli. He may let out an expletive or two in Hindi, his natural language.

But value the main language - cricket - which has been an education for those who have seen him mature into a celebrity. From Paschim Vihar to Mumbai and then London, Kohli has changed residences. He gets trolled for it.

Why? Is it a crime he can afford privacy and wishes to live where he feels at peace? Is it a crime he does not want to live in Mumbai forever since the city is so noisy and crowded? If Kohli loves London and lives in London, it is a personal choice.

For each troll who says he makes guest appearances for India in international cricket, that is abuse. The man has delivered enough and will attempt his best when he plays in Australia in the BGT series. If he fails, as many want him to as well, he will take a call.

Scribes and commentators with famous initials like 'SMG' and 'HB' do not need to pontificate. They will be better of just to hold the mike and speak cricket, for which they get paid in contracts worth crores of rupees. Virat Kohli gets not gifts from the BCCI and earns what he has been graded for. Remember that.

For any comparison made that Sachin Tendulkar was the God of cricket and he was a master class in Tests, Virat Kohli has been no joker. In a chat with his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma, this June, in a radio show, this writer asked if Kohli has changed.

The answer was a 'no' and Rajkumar Sharma said Kohli does not bother one bit about all the criticism and will always strive to do his best. And that is why when he and Rohit Sharma decided to bid goodbye to T20 international cricket, the decision was impromptu, in the West Indies.

Kohli has led as captain in the past with flourish. He changed the work ethic of so many. He puts a price on fitness, and, at 36, sets an example. Rarely does he need to go to the NCA for rehab. What he eats is something so healthy, that Kohli sets an example. Mind you, all this is for the sake of being fit and performing.

Fans need to read that as he is not playing cricket because the selectors love him. If they think he is a liability, drop him. Kohli is not going to quit Test cricket unless he himself makes the decision. How many know he has spent years in perfection? How many know when he hit that six off Harris Rauf in the ICC T20 World Cup two years ago, he had left the world in thrall. This defines Kohli as King.

When the ICC and IOC decided that cricket will be a part of the LA 2028 Olympics, the hype was over Kohli as the face of T20 cricket. To forget all this is selective amnesia of sorts and how does one forget what Kohli means to RCB is exactly like MS Dhoni and the charismatic connect with CSK and Chennai.

In a recent social media post, Kohli has said he wants to be part of RCB till 2027. He will do it, even if trolls cry. If there are millions of trolls, he also has millions of fans as well. And the best part, so many fans are from across the border.

Pakistan loves Kohli more than some famous Indian commentators and writers who behave worse than BOTS on other social media platforms. How many know Kohli held back tears and went to play a Ranji match for Delhi the very next day a day after he lost his father, years back.

That hunger and dedication have been forgotten, sadly. Kohli is now a nuisance, a liability, a curse. He does not score runs! Come on, even Tendulkar went through bad patches. That's how sport is, there will be ups and downs. Even if there are blips, ignore them. Kohli knows when to pack up. No, not now.

He has plenty of cricket left in him. If not Tests, then the ODIs, where records speak for themselves. As Kohli cuts a cake with wife Anushka and his family, respect his privacy. Remember, there are thousands of fans cutting cakes today to wish Kohli and enjoy this day as he turns 36 and please do not connect this number to the dubious score in a Test match in Australia, a few years ago! Long live King Kohli.