If Virat Reduces Aggression, He Wont Be Same Player: 2011 WC Winner Shares Blunt Take On Kohlis Changed Version
'Nothing (on whether he would change anything). What others call aggression, I call it passion. Is Virat Kohli aggressive? No. I think he is obsessed. Virat's aggression, people say, is a lot. I would say if he reduces that aggression, he won't be the same player.'
ALSO READ- Exclusive: Grace Hayden Shares Thoughts On Virat Kohli's Test Retirement Says, 'Absolute Legend, Will Be Remembered As GOAT'
Teammates
Sreesanth and Kohli were teammates in India's 2011 ICC ODI World Cup-winning squad, which defeated Sri Lanka in the final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, their cricketing journeys went in different directions after the triumph. While Kohli made his Test debut in the West Indies series shortly afterward, Sreesanth was not part of that tour.
Sreesanth now a cricket turned commentator is usually seen as a broadcaster and analyst on different TV/Digital channels.
Kohli's recent on field spat that grabbed headlines was during his last Test series ( Border Gavaskar Series 2024) against Australia. He was caught in a verbal spat with Aussie debutant Sam Konstas.
Later Konstas Clarified -
"I think the emotions got to both of us. I didn't quite realise as I was doing my gloves. But, it happens in cricket," Konstas told the broadcaster 7Cricket.
Kohli One Format Left
Kohli's most recent appearance for India came during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where an unbeaten Indian side clinched the title by defeating New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Stadium. Earlier this year, Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket following a disappointing run in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he managed just 190 runs in five matches. Before stepping away from the longest format, Kohli had also retired from T20 internationals after India's victory in the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, where they beat South Africa in the final to secure their first World Cup title since 2011.
Kohli will now be seen in action during India's upcoming ODI series against Australia, starting October 19, 2025.
ALSO READ - Who Needs A Patriotic Movie When You've Got India vs Pakistan? 5 Iconic Matches to Watch This August 15
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
12 minutes ago
- Mint
India get Jasprit Bumrah boost ahead of Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement; Suryakumar Yadav clears fitness test too
camp in In a huge boost for the Indian team ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 squad announcement, Jasprit Bumrah has informed the BCCI that he is available for the continental showpiece, which is set to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9. According to a Indian Express report, Bumrah has informed the BCCI selectors that he is available for selection. 'Bumrah has informed the selectors that he will be available for Asia Cup selection. The selection committee will meet and discuss it when they meet next week,' the newspaper quoted a source. The inclusion of Bumrah will give an added edge to the Indian team in the competition, the squad of which is expected to be picked in Mumbai on August 19. Earlier, Bumrah, who played just three Tests out of five games in England, was released during the fifth Test at The Oval. Although, the BCCI didn't reveal the exact reason of Bumrah's release during the Oval Test, several media reports stated that the premier India pacer was suffering from a knee injury and headed to Bengaluru's BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for recovery. With the Asia Cup 2025 to be played in T20I format, Bumrah need not to bowl long spells, thereby putting his workload management in check. In fact, there will be nearly a 40-day break for Bumrah between his last Test in Manchester and India's first match at Asia Cup 2025 India will start their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against UAE on September 10, followed by the mega encounter against Pakistan four days later. The Men in Blue round off their league campaign against Oman on September 19. The last time Bumrah played a T20I was the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Meanwhile, a PTI report stated that Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has cleared his fitness test at the CoE and is available for selection too. He will be attending the BCCI selection committee meeting on Tuesday in Mumbai. The swashbuckling batter, who last featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Mumbai Indians had undergone surgery for a sports hernia in the lower-right abdomen in Munich, Germany, in June. "Fitness tests are mandatory before Return to Play (RTP) post-surgery. Surya has cleared the fitness test," a BCCI source told PTI. He has been at the CoE in Bengaluru for quite some time. Meanwhile, it is understood that the Indian team will be flying out for UAE earlier than expected to accommodate with the conditions. Initially, the Indian team were to have a short camp in Bengaluru. But since they are without any match practice for more than a month before the Asia Cup, having a camp in UAE sounded a wise idea.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
11 times! Irfan Pathan recalls fiery rivalry with Shahid Afridi: 'I showed him who the real Pathan is'
Irfan Pathan and Shahid Afridi NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opened up about his long-standing on-field rivalry with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi , recalling both the personal barbs and the cricketing battles that defined their encounters. Pathan, who had immense success against Pakistan in his career — taking 67 wickets and scoring 807 runs, including a century — dismissed Afridi 11 times across formats, including a golden duck in the 2007 T20 World Cup final. Speaking on Lallantop, the former left-arm pacer revealed how the rivalry turned personal early on. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'Dismissed him 11 times. I have a different kind of fight with him [Afridi] because when I was new and young in the team… there was an interview of Afridi with Harsha Bhogle,' Pathan said. 'Afridi had said, 'I am the real Pathan, he is a fake Pathan'. Badtameez aadmi hai. Mujhe laga ki aap sirf mere baare mein nahi bol rahe ho, mere waalid ke baare mein bhi baat kar rahe, jo aapko nahi karna chahiye tha.' Poll Who do you think had the upper hand in the Pathan-Afridi rivalry? Irfan Pathan Shahid Afridi Both were equally matched Pathan admitted the comment fueled his determination whenever he bowled to Afridi. 'Toh jab jab mere haath mein ball tha, mere jahan mein yeh tha ki isko toh main out kar dunga. Maine out karke usko gyara baar bata chuka hoon ki asli Pathan kaun hai. Bade bade maukon mein out kiya hai — series decider mein, World Cup final mein,' he added. The rivalry also played out off the field. Pathan recalled a heated exchange during India's 2006 tour of Pakistan when both teams were traveling by flight from Karachi to Lahore. 'Afridi came and placed his hand on my head, messing up my hair. He asked me, 'How are you kid?' I said, 'Since when have you become my father?' The childish behaviour was actually his,' Pathan recounted. EXCLUSIVE | Harbhajan Singh on Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, India vs Pakistan and more What followed was a verbal spat, with Pathan landing the sharper wordplay. 'I said, 'He (Afridi) has eaten dog meat, he has been barking for a long time.' After that, Afridi couldn't say anything. Whatever he might have said, I would have just said, 'Look, he is barking again.' From that moment, he understood he could not win against me verbally,' Pathan explained. For Pathan, Afridi's remarks may have crossed a line, but the Indian all-rounder believes his performances on the field offered the most fitting reply. 'I showed him who the real Pathan is — not once, but 11 times.' Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
New Record! Dewald Brevis surpasses Virat Kohli, becomes the first-ever batter to ...
Dewald Brevis and Virat Kohli (Agency Photos) South African batter Dewald Brevis surpassed India's Virat Kohli in the record for most T20I sixes against Australia in Australia, becoming the first ever batter to hit 14 sixes in T20I Down Under. Despite his impressive performance, South Africa couldn't secure a victory in the series decider. Brevis scored a powerful 53 runs off 26 balls, which included one four and six sixes. His achievement of 14 sixes in just three matches overtook Kohli's record of 12 sixes in 10 T20Is against Australia in their home conditions. The match began with Lhuan-dre Pretorius scoring a quick 24 before Nathan Ellis dismissed him. Brevis, who had previously set a South African T20 record with 125 not out in the second match, then took to the crease. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Brevis's aggressive innings included hitting a six onto the stadium roof. Glenn Maxwell initially dropped a difficult catch at long-on but later made amends with an impressive diving catch to dismiss Brevis at 53. The South African innings lost momentum after Brevis's departure. Australia's response started strongly with captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head putting on a 66-run opening partnership. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Poll Was Dewald Brevis's performance in the match impressive? Yes, absolutely! It was good, but not enough No, he should have done better South Africa fought back by quickly dismissing Head for 19 and Josh Inglis for a duck. Marsh reached 54 before young bowler Kwena Maphaka took his wicket, followed by Cameron Green's dismissal for 9 runs. Australia experienced a collapse, losing 6 wickets for 56 runs. Tim David (17) and Aaron Hardie (1) were dismissed before Glenn Maxwell took control of the game, winning the game and securing the three-match T20I series 2-1. The Australian team wore black armbands to honor former captain and coach Bob Simpson, who died at age 89. The teams will next meet in a three-match ODI series starting Tuesday in Cairns. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
