"No one in RCB gets close to Virat Kohli" - Swastik Chikara

Every young cricketer has the dream of sharing the dressing room with legends, but when that legend happens to be Virat Kohli, it would certainly be a dream-come-true moment. And Swastik Chikara got that opportunity to cherish for life.

The Uttar Pradesh batter revealed that the dashing cricketer’s mere presence carries an intensity that can leave even the most confident players nervous. Chikara had the chance to be around Kohli during his IPL 2025 stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Swastik Chikara admits fear of Virat Kohli’s intense gaze

Sharing his experience on the sidelines of the ongoing UP T20 League 2025, Swastik admitted that it wasn’t easy at first to even look at the former Indian captain. He revealed that the sharpness in Kohli’s eyes, his towering aura, and the silence that followed whenever he walked in created a sense of fear among the players, including the seniors at the RCB.

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He said that players were usually hesitant to even meet India’s batting maestro’s gaze, let alone start a conversation. However, once he started talking to Virat, Chikara realized that behind that intense exterior was a senior who was approachable, fun, and someone who made the young players feel comfortable in the dressing room.

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No one in the RCB team is able to look at Virat Kohli's eye: Swastik Chikara

Swastik Chikara was quoted as saying by RevSportz: “I was scared of his eyes. I am very scared of Virat Kohli Bhai. I am telling you the truth; no one in the RCB team is able to look at his eye. No one comes close to him. There is fear. I told him that people are very scared of him.

I felt like, what would happen if he glared at me? But that didn’t happen; I feel relaxed and chilled. I used to say anything to him, and I had a great bond with him.”

Swastik Chikara opens up on seeing Virat Kohli cry in IPL 2025 Final

The right-handed batter has described Kohli as warm, kind, and someone who never showed anger or denied him anything. But the most unforgettable moment came in the IPL 2025 final, when Kohli broke down in tears near the boundary rope as the RCB were close to ending their title drought.

Chikara said that watching the great champion cry was overwhelming for him, and it became the biggest and most emotional moment for him that he could never forget. Notably, RCB defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs in the IPL 2025 final to lift their maiden title in June.

The 20-year-old signed off by saying, “He is such a sweet guy. He has never been angry with him. He has never said anything to me. He never said no to anything for me. He was such a nice guy. And when he was crying in the final, I couldn't see him. I left after a while. Virat Kohli was crying, and there can't be a bigger moment than this.”

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"Virat Kohli broke the ice in the very first meeting, he is like my elder brother now. To see him achieve his 18-year long dream in IPL was surely" -

RCB's Swastik Chikara, currently playing in UP T20 League, opens up on RCB's IPL triumph, relationship with Kohli… pic.twitter.com/VQLfxiJIvh

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) August 22, 2025

However, Swastik didn’t get the chance to play in this season, but gained the experience and moment that he would cherish for his life. He was also part of the Delhi Capitals’ squad but has yet to make his IPL debut. He has so far played 12 domestic games across the formats, scoring 289 runs.

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