Family, failure, parathas: Virat Kohli pens letter to his 15-yr-old self 'Chiku'; includes notes to navigate through life

Love your family. Savour the parathas. Follow your heart. And dream big.

As Virat Kohli turned a year older, the Indian skipper penned a heart-warming note to his 15-year-old self - one that not just every teenager but grown-ups need to read as well.

Filled with wisdom, the letter addressed to a teenage 'Chiku' emphasises on how chasing your dreams can make all the difference.

The 31-year-old opens his note by telling his younger-self that he won't answer all the questions, "because not knowing what's in store makes every surprise sweet, every challenge thrilling and every disappointment an opportunity to learn."

Adding that it 'more about the journey than the destination'. But he does give one hint about the journey to a young-Kohli.

"The journey is SUPER!"

He also shared sane advice about not taking things for granted. And learning from failure.

"You will fail. Everyone does. Just promise yourself that you'll never forget to rise. And if at first you don't, try again," Kohli writes.

Now, these are words to pin to your wall.

Seeing his history of having to deal with trolls, Kohli has all the experience you would need to not just bask in the love from the fans but balance the dislike too.

"You will be loved by many. and will be disliked too. By some who won't even know you. Don't care about them. Keep believing in yourself."

Another topic that finds mention in the letter is family. The cricketer has always been open about being close to his family, as has actress-wife Anushka Sharma. So much so, that their gorgeous Tuscan wedding only had family on the list.

But it's also something teenagers don't seem to realise. And that's exactly what Kohli is telling his 15-year-old self, by rewinding to this day some 16 years ago.

"I know you are thinking about those shoes dad did not gift you today. They mean nothing compared to the hug he gave you this morning or the joke he cracked about your height. Cherish this. I know he can seem strict at times. But that's because he wants the best for you. You feel that our parents don't understand us sometimes, but remember this - only our family loves us unconditionally. Love them back, respect them and spend all the time you can, with them. Tell dad you love him. Tell him today. Tell him tomorrow. Tell him more often."

And of course, like every true-Punjabi, there's an ode to his love for parathas, as he concludes, "Savour those parathas buddy! They'll become quite a luxury in years to come."


Here's the full letter:


Hi Chiku,

First of all, a very happy birthday! I am sure you have a lot of questions for me about your future. I am sorry but I am not going to answer too many of them. Because not knowing what's in store mak es every surprise sweet, every challenge thrilling and every disappointment an opportunity to learn. You don't realise it today but it's more about the journey than the destination. And the journey is SUPER!

What I will tell you is that life has big things in story for you Virat. But you need to be ready for each and every opportunity that comes your way. Grab it when it comes. And never take what you have for granted. You will fail. Everyone does. Just promise yourself that you'll never forget to rise. And if at first you don't, try again.

You will be loved by many. and will be disliked too. By some who won't even know you. Don't care about them. Keep believing in yourself.

"I know you are thinking about those shoes dad did not gift you today. They mean nothing compared to the hug he gave you this morning or the joke he cracked about your height. Cherish this. I know he can seem strict at times. But that's because he wants the best for you. You feel that our parents don't understand us sometimes, but remember this - only our family loves us unconditionally. Love them back, respect them and spend all the time you can, with them. Tell dad you love him. Tell him today. Tell him tomorrow. Tell him more often."

Finally, just follow your heart. Chase your dreams, be kind and show the world how dreaming big makes all the difference. be you.

And...savour those parathas buddy!They'll become quite a luxury in years to come.

Make every day super!