Watch: Virat Kohli candidly confesses to feeling awkward while playing in front of his own pavilion

India's cricket sensation, Virat Kohli, has shared his feelings about the extraordinary experience of playing in front of a pavilion named after him at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium, formerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla. In a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Kohli talked about his partnership with KL Rahul, which played a crucial role in India's victory against Australia. However, the conversation shifted to the emotional weight of performing at a stadium where his cricketing journey began.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium holds a special place in Kohli's heart, as it is where he started playing age-group and Ranji cricket. It's where his journey to represent India began, with selectors first noticing his talent and giving him an opportunity. Kohli expressed his nostalgia, saying, "Those memories stay fresh in your mind. You can feel it because that is where everything started."

Kohli also acknowledged the unusual feeling of playing in front of a pavilion bearing his name, confessing, "It is awkward for me to be playing in front of a pavilion named after me. I do not like to talk about it a lot. But it is a great honor, and I feel happy and grateful about it, something I never felt would happen to me."



Looking back at their outstanding 165-run partnership against Australia, which helped India chase down a challenging target of 200 runs, Kohli emphasized the contentment they felt while batting. He stated, "A highlight of our partnership was how content we were to knock the ball around and not necessarily look at our runs and balls, just fighting through the physical challenges of what we had experienced."

KL Rahul, Kohli's partner in that remarkable stand, shared his perspective on their partnership, saying, "I planned to play the first ten overs like Test cricket. We have been in situations where the ball does something. So I told myself to be a bit conservative and kill Australia's momentum. You were content with knocking it around, but also showed intent and punished them when they got off the radar."

Both batsmen emphasized their ability to adapt and the importance of teamwork. Kohli expressed hope for the future, saying, "The team feels great after a win like this. Hopefully, we can build on this and go a long way in this tournament."

Kohli's unique position of playing in a stadium bearing his name adds an extra layer of complexity to his already remarkable cricketing journey.