Former India captain Rohit Sharma has spoken about his long-standing camaraderie with Virat Kohli, saying the two have shared a close bond since the early stages of their international careers and continue to help each other improve their game.
Speaking ahead of India’s second ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati, Rohit recalled how his relationship with Kohli grew during India’s tour of Australia and remained strong over the years.
Rohit made his international debut in 2007, while Kohli entered international cricket in 2008. According to Rohit, their journeys at the highest level have helped them develop a strong understanding of each other and the demands of international cricket.
“Both of us, we’ve almost started playing at the same time. I made my debut in 2007; he made his debut in 2008. And since then, we’ve been trying to give our best for the team,” Rohit said.
The former India captain also said Kohli’s approach to the game has remained largely unchanged despite both players taking up leadership roles at different stages of their careers.
“When he was captain, pretty much the same. When I was captain, pretty much the same. And I don’t see any reason why anything needs to change,” Rohit said.
Rohit further highlighted the mutual respect between the two batters, saying they regularly exchange views about their batting and suggest areas where either of them can improve.
“At the same time, there has been a lot of discussion about how both of us as individuals can improve our own game. So, sometimes if something is happening with my batting, he comes and mentions it, sometimes I mention it,” he said.
Rohit said that while the two used to spend considerable time together during frequent international tours, they now have more opportunities to stay at home.
“Until a year ago, every 5-7 days we were on tour, so we didn’t get much time at home. Now both of us are spending more time at home, which is always nice,” he said.
Kohli will head into the second ODI in Guwahati after producing a spectacular innings in the series opener. Chasing 296, he scored an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, smashing 10 fours and nine sixes as India registered a convincing win over the West Indies.
The knock took Kohli beyond 15,000 ODI runs and marked his 86th international century. His nine sixes were also his highest in a single ODI innings.
The second ODI between India and the West Indies is scheduled to be played at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, September 30.