Indian cricket superstar and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli has shared an unheard tale featuring Ishant Sharma from his debut IPL match against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata back in 2008.
Virat Kohli, who is one of the few cricketers still playing who has been part of every single IPL season, recalled the electric atmosphere, the buzz around the new league, and how his Delhi teammate Ishant Sharma sledged him in his first match against the KKR.
Back then, Kohli was just 18 and had just returned from winning the U-19 World Cup. With big expectations and dreams, he stepped out to bat for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, trying to help his franchise chase a huge target of 223 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The stadium was loud, packed, and full of energy. The moment was overwhelming. But it was Ishant who made his life hell at the Eden Gardens in his debut match. The duo played together for Delhi, and Virat faced the lanky pacer a lot at the nets. But on that night, Ishant felt like a completely different bowler, thanks to the pressure and atmosphere at the Eden Gardens.
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Virat Kohli said on JioHotstar’s '18 Calling 18' show: “The interesting thing, which I've never spoken about, is that Ishant and I played all our cricket together, so I have faced him a lot. But in that game, I felt he was bowling at a different level, and that was the pressure.
That is what environment means. Had I faced him in the nets, I wouldn't have been intimidated, but that day, I felt like I couldn't hit any of his deliveries, and that was because of the atmosphere and the pressure.”
When Ishant Sharma's attitude surprised Virat Kohli
During the first-ever IPL match, a young Kohli faced a tough challenge against the Indian pacer, who had just returned from a successful tour in Australia where he gained fame for dismissing Ricky Ponting. Ishant was full of confidence and kept sledging Kohli throughout the over with his fiery attitude and energy.
Kohli, who was still new to such high-pressure situations, found it difficult to settle in. He managed to score just one run from five balls before being dismissed by Ashok Dinda in the next over. In that match, RCB suffered a heavy defeat, losing the match by 140 runs to KKR.
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Ishant Sharma was sledging a lot, I said, 'Side mein aa mein tereko batata hu.': Virat Kohli
Despite the tough game, the banter between the two friends remained light-hearted and full of fun, as it was just the beginning of their journey, and later they shared the Indian dressing room and played key roles in the national team’s success at the international arena.
Kohli signed off by saying, “We were staying in different hotels, so there was no conversation about the game. But yes, he was sledging a lot. I mean, seriously...he just came back from Australia, had that new hairstyle, so he had that star attitude. I said, 'Side mein aa mein tereko batata hu.' But all fun and games.”
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