"This is What You Can Do for the Team?"- Virat Kohli reveals tough conversation with MS Dhoni

Former Team India skipper Virat Kohli has credited MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten for their early support in backing him to bat at No. 3 for the national cricket team. The right-handed batter recalled that Dhoni and Kirsten were clear about their backing and added that it was pivotal in shaping his career.

Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the finest batsmen, especially in the No. 3 position. He has scored 27,599 runs in international cricket, with 15,303 of those runs coming while batting at No. 3. Kohli has also helped India win four ICC tournament titles. The veteran batter led India for a few years after MS Dhoni.

Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni Made It Very Clear to Me That... - Virat Kohli

In an interview with Mayanti Langer, Virat Kohli opened up about the role MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten played in his career. Kohli shared that he was initially unsure of his abilities. He revealed that Dhoni and Kirsten told him that they wanted him to bat at No. 3 because of the energy.

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"That was the very reason I got chances to play for India initially. And Gary (Kirsten) and MS (Dhoni) made it very clear to me that we are backing you to play at number 3. And this is what you can do for the team. And what you represent on the field, your energy, your engagement, that is of the biggest value to us. So we want you to play that way," Kohli said.

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘸! 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘏𝘖𝘔𝘌. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦… pic.twitter.com/n0DErxgonp

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 6, 2025

I Was Never Looked at as This Outright Match Winner - Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli admitted that early in his career, he wasn’t seen as a match-winner but as someone who would fight through challenges. He said that his qualities earned backing from MS Dhoni and Gary Kirsten. Kohli also said that he wasn't the most technically gifted or naturally talented player.

"So I was never looked at as this outright match winner who can change the game from anywhere. But I had this thing of, 'I'm going to stay in the fight'. I'm not going to give up," continued Kohli.

"And that is what they backed. So that very thing that God blessed me with, that helped me to improve my game, my technique, everything. And I've never been shy to admit that I was not the most technically sound and naturally gifted player.

"I evolved a lot while I was playing because I was very keen to learn, and I was very keen to get better. And I wanted to be the best. There is no denying that I wanted to be the best. And that hunger, that desire to keep improving, eventually to win more games for your team, is what helped me improve my game," continued Kohli.

Virat Kohli is Playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025

Virat Kohli has been in outstanding form during IPL 2025. He is the leading run-getter in the tournament. Kohli has scored 505 runs from 11 innings at an average of 63.12 and a strike rate of 143.46. Kohli has also hit seven half-centuries, all of which have contributed to RCB’s victories.

In the most recent match against CSK, Kohli scored 62 from 33 balls, hitting five boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of 187.88.

The 36-year-old helped the team secure eight wins and only three losses from 11 matches. RCB became the first team to reach 16 points. They will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a top-two finish with three more games remaining.

Also read: Daniel Vettori absolutely destroys Hyderabad Cricket Association and BCCI after SRH's elimination