"How Dare You?" - Virat Kohli's epic battle revealed by Ishant Sharma

Ishant Sharma credited former Indian captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri for developing a fierce attitude in the side. It was only after Virat Kohli became India's Test captain in 2015 that the national team became a fearless and dominant force across all formats.

The former Indian fast bowler revealed how whenever an opposition player tried to intimidate or sledge any Indian cricketer, the entire team would immediately stand up in defense.

Ishant Sharma credits Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri for India’s fierce attitude

Ishant noted that under Kohli’s captaincy, the Indian cricket team created a strong aura on the field and showed that no player would be left to face challenges alone.

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Ishant Sharma said on Raj Shamani’s Podcast: “Since 2015, when Virat Kohli became the captain and Ravi Shastri was the coach, a new attitude developed in our team; if any opposition player said something to even one of our players, the whole team would stand up against them and give it back. All 15-16 players in the squad would speak up and wouldn’t hold back, making it clear—‘How dare you say that to our player?’ They wouldn’t let it slide.”

Ishant Sharma calls Virat Kohli one of India’s most special cricketers

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma has called Kohli one of the most special cricketers India has ever seen while highlighting his extraordinary focus and dedication. He stressed that Kohli’s mindset on the field is unmatched, saying no matter what challenges he faces off the field, once he steps onto the pitch, his sole focus is performing for the team.

The former Indian fast bowler also pointed out that Kohli’s discipline and mental strength are so strong that even after long, exhausting nights or traveling late, he can come back the next day and give it all without letting fatigue or personal issues affect his game.

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Ishant signed off by saying, “One of the most special things about Virat Kohli is that when he is on the field, he only thinks about cricket and about his team. No matter how big a problem he might be facing in life, when he's on the field, his only focus is, 'I have to score runs, and I will.' Even if he comes home late at night around 2 or 3 AM, and he's batting overnight in a match, the next day he'll still go out and score 200 runs; it doesn't affect him at all.”

Virat Kohli’s captaincy era

Kohli’s captaincy era in Indian cricket is one of the most remarkable in history. Leading India across all three formats, he transformed the team into a dominant force, especially in Tests and ODIs. Under Kohli, India achieved its first-ever Test series win in Australia in 2018-19 and became a top-ranked Test side for several years.

He captained India in 68 Tests, winning 40, drawing 18, and losing only 10, boasting an impressive win percentage of around 59%. In ODIs, he led India in 95 matches, securing 65 victories and achieving a win rate of nearly 69%, while in T20Is, India won 41 out of 50 games under his leadership. His aggressive yet strategic captaincy redefined India’s approach and mindset.