Virender Sehwag reveals Virat Kohli's naughty side as a youngster

Virat Kohli might be at the helm of the Team India, shouldering the responsibility of an entire nation, but as a youngster, he was naughty nonetheless. Hailing from the same city of Delhi, former India opener Virender Sehwag is someone who would have known Kohli as a budding cricketer, and would have been well acquainted with his mischievous facet as well.

While Sehwag was his jocular and jovial self all throughout his career, singing songs before he smacks one into the stands, Kohli was famous for his aggressive attitude on the cricket field. As a Delhiite, the tempers flared more often than not, which somehow has become a trait of those coming from the capital city.

However, Sehwag narrated a story about young Kohli which brought out the Indian captain’s naughty side. He revealed that Virat used to behave like a shy youngster in front of the seniors but was the complete opposite during his U-19 days.

Virat Kohli was shy and quiet: Virender Sehwag

“He was a shy and quiet youngster in front of us senior players but when he was in the U-19 team he used to be very very naughty. I’ve heard a lot of stories about how naughty he was from his U-19 coach Ajit Chaudhary,” Sehwag said.

“Once Chaudhary told me that Kohli fell ill or was play acting so his coach told him that he wouldn’t play in the next match. And suddenly Kohli’s fever went away and he became absolutely fine after hearing that, started batting normally the way he does in the nets also. He played the next match and smashed a double hundred,” Sehwag told Star Sports in an interview.

Viru also shared his thoughts after having seen the current heart-throb of world cricket batting live for the first time.

“The first time I heard about Virat Kohli was in Najafgarh where there was another player around 16-17 years of age who used to bowl to me, his name was Pradeep Sangwan. I heard Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma’s name from the first time from him, Kohli especially,” Sehwag shared.

“He told me that if you want to watch a player you should watch Virat Kohli. He told me how brilliant Kohli was as a batsman. Initially I thought Sangwan was just bragging about his friend,” Viru said.

“But when I saw Virat Kohli play for the first time – he came out to bat with me in a T20 match and played a backfoot punch shot piercing the gap through long on and long off for a four, that was when I felt this boy has some serious talent. After that he didn’t look back and within one year he broke into the Indian team,” Sehwag added.

Virat Kohli is currently leading the Men in Blue in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy in England, and India are looking to retain the coveted piece of silverware.