I think Mohammed Siraj looks at Virat Kohli like a guiding light: Dinesh Karthik

Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli's bromance with young pacer Mohammed Siraj is no secret to the world, and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has shed light on Kohli's equation with the young fast-bowling sensation. Karthik revealed that Siraj looks up to the former Indian skipper as an elder brother in the team.

Team India's fast bowling improved leaps and bounds under Virat Kohli's reign, and the former RCB captain had a similar impact at his IPL franchise. Dinesh Karthik, who is currently part of the RCB squad, reminded that Mohammed Siraj was about to be dropped from the team in 2020 after a string of poor performances, but the then RCB skipper, Kohli, backed the pacer to come good for the team.

“He has gone on to do so well for RCB in 2020 post-pandemic when he just came through. He was about to be dropped but Virat Kohli backed him and said 'I want him in the Playing XI'. And he had something to do with me because I was part of the KKR team that had gotten all out for less than 100. 

"He picked up three wickets and won the Player of the Match. From there, his T20 career simply took off. He did really well and it is great to see somebody come from those strata of society have so much confidence and do so well in life. He has a great success story that a lot of people can draw inspiration from,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz’s ‘Rise of New India’ show. 

He really values Virat as a very important person in his life: Karthik

Elaborating on the relationship between the young pacer and the global batting icon, Karthik said that the Hyderabad-born pacer looks at Kohli like an elder brother and a guiding light. The wicketkeeper-batter also marked former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun as a crucial figure during Siraj's early playing career.

“Literally like an elder brother. I think he looks at him like a guiding light. In his tough times, Virat Kohli backed him and he really appreciates that. Under Kohli's captaincy is when he came back to the team. So he really values Virat as a very important person in his life. I think there are two people he really values a lot - Bharat Arun and Kohli. 

"Because in his formative years for Hyderabad, Bharat Arun was the coach and he really guided him during those moments to achieve greatness and the good things. Bharat Arun has played a big factor. And Virat Kohli as someone who has captained him when he performed so well and been an important force in his life,” he added.

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