Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan recall first memories of watching Virat Kohli play

Former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh reminisced about the first encounter he had with a young Virat Kohli. He first saw Kohli in action during the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008 when Mumbai Indians played their first game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Leading Mumbai in Sachin Tendulkar's absence, Harbhajan witnessed Kohli's remarkable talent firsthand as he watched him smash a six off the legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya. This moment provided the former cricketer with insight into Kohli's performance as despite facing renowned players like Jayasuriya, the latter remained composed. 

"I had heard Virat Kohli's name before the auction (IPL 2008), as Lalchand Rajput had told me that there's this one young boy who has done very well at the U19 World Cup. I was the captain in the first match for Mumbai Indians when Kohli stepped out and hit Sanath Jayasuriya over his head for a six," Harbhajan told Star Sports.

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Virat Kohli never sidelined cricket: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan highlighted Virat Kohli's dedication to cricket during his formative years. The former left-arm pacer emphasized Kohli's clear prioritization of cricket and he believes his success over the years can be attributed to the clarity he had regarding his goals and ambitions in the sport.

"I saw a young Kohli during the IPL, and he was always in the news (laughs). But he never sidelined cricket. His success speaks volumes about the commitment he has shown to the game," said Pathan. 

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Meanwhile, former Indian batter S Badrinath, who captained Tamil Nadu during their Ranji Trophy match against Delhi, witnessed Virat Kohli's debut firsthand. He emphasized Kohli's approach of always confronting challenges head-on.

"The first time I met Virat Kohli was when he made his first-class debut against Tamil Nadu. I was leading Tamil Nadu. He wanted to be the best that he can be. He wanted the challenges. He loved the challenges. He was always like "ye spell main jaake khelunga (I will go and play this spell). I will do it," said Badrinath.