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

The 31-year-old opens his letter clarifying 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."

Kohli rings in birthday with Anushka; Raina wishes him more 'runs & power', Tendulkar says 'continue leading India with the same passion'
Fitter than ever: Virat Kohli credits vegetarianism for his ripped physique
From Kohli to MSD: Each time the boys in blue engaged in a verbal spat on field
Virat Kohli's grey hair shows what cricket captaincy really demands

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."

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma after Team India won the series and the BorderGavaskar Trophy in the series against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground.

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."

From Seeking Charulata’s Blessings To Coming Out As A Feminist, 5 Reasons Why B’day Boy Vir...

Autoplay

1 of 6

A Bad Boy With A Good Heart

It was in the year 2011 during India’s tour of Australia that Virat Kohli had an intense verbal duel with the Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson. Sure, Aussies are known for their provoking nature but Virat’s hot-headed temperament did not help the cause either. The fight got so intense that Captain Ricky Ponting had to pull Virat out of the argument.

There is no denying that there have been plenty of instances of the Indian skipper getting aggressive on-field, be it him sparring with cricketer Gautam Gambhir during IPL 2013, or hurling abuses at Pakistani bowlers at the Asia Cup in 2012.

But, as the years passed, we saw Kohli grow up and become a kind-hearted, responsible man. Fast forward to 2019, our favourite cricketer is now a good Samaritan who respects boundaries and has the courage to speak up for the right. As the cricketer turns 31, we take a look back at some of the instances when Virat behaved like a true blue gentleman and won the hearts of all Indians.

An Act Of Kindness That Won Hearts

The 2019 Cricket World Cup was special for team India in more ways than one. The boys set new examples and records and Virat Kohli was no exception. When Team India took on Australia in one of the cricket matches, Steve Smith, an Australian cricketer was booed by the Indian crowd for his poor fielding.

Things got really personal and some fans in the crowd started chanting ‘cheater cheater’ referring to his ball-tampering scandal. Virat Kohli noticed this and was quick to react. The 31-year-old urged the Indians fans to stop booing and clap for him instead.

Seeing Virat stand up for him, Smith exchanged a handshake with him. Speaking on the incident, the Indian Captain said, "I just felt for him, and I told him, 'I'm sorry on behalf of the crowd because I have seen that happen in a few earlier games as well’. In my opinion, that's not acceptable."

Shutting Up Trolls Like A Boss

Virat Kohli’s wife and famous B-town actress, Anushka Sharma, has often been a target of trolls. In the matches where Anushka Sharma is present in the stadium, a common trend for the trolls is to blame Anushka for Virat’s poor performance.

In 2016, Virat took a strong stand for then girlfriend Anushka Sharma, and called out trolls for trolling Anushka when she had no control over what he did with his sport. “Shame on those people who have been having a go at anushka for the longest time and connecting every negative thing to her. Shame on those people calling themselves educated,” wrote Virat in an Instagram post.

This gesture of Virat earned him appreciation from all over. Actress Richa Chaddha appreciated the Indian team skipper saying, “Why can’t more men emulate Virat Kohli?”

When Virat Met His Biggest Fan

Out of all the special ‘Virat-moments’ that came out of 2019 Cricket World Cup, the one that won the hearts of all Indians was when the Indian skipper met 87-year-old cricket fan Charulata Patel. For the uninitiated, when India took on Bangladesh on July 2, the television cameras kept panning to an 87-year-old woman who was enthusiastically cheering for Team India and even blowing a trumpet.

Commentator Sourav Ganguly helped identify the woman and once the match ended, Virat took it upon himself to go and meet Charulata Patel. The Captain of the Indian Cricket Team spent some time chatting with her and even sought her blessings for the upcoming matches.

“Also would like to thank all our fans for all the love & support & especially Charulata Patel ji. She's 87 and probably one of the most passionate & dedicated fans I've ever seen,” Virat wrote in a tweet.

Making Women’s Cricket Team #BleedBlue

The Golden girls of Indian cricket, the women’s cricket team, has made India proud on several occasions but their hard work and dedication rarely gets the same appreciation as that of men’s cricket team. Virat took a stand for them and started a campaign #JerseyKnowsNoGender to urge the nation to boost their spirits.

He even nominated some of his fellow sportsmen, Rishabh Pant, Sunil Chetri and Saina Nehwal to wear the blue jersey and cheer for the women’s cricket team.

A true gentleman? You bet!

Here's the full letter:

My journey and life's lessons explained to a 15-year old me. Well, I tried my best writing this down. Do give it a… https://t.co/xpjDb32BSk
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) 1572925491000

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!

How Many Books Have You Read From Virat Kohli's List?

Autoplay

1 of 4

Nerd Mode On

Recently the Indian captain made headlines for his reading choice during the opening Test between India and the West Indies.

Team India captain Virat Kohli wears many hats – batsman, model, fashion curator - but one title that few associate with him is bookworm. When he’s not playing cricket, practising his swing or hitting the gym, the right-handed batsman loves to relax with a good book, as evidenced by this tweet.

We take a look at some of the books that make the ‘nerd’ in Kohli happy.

(Image: Twitter/ViratKohli)

'Detox Your Ego' by Steven Sylvester

After being dismissed for nine in the first innings on Day 1 of the ongoing Test between India and the West Indies, the Indian captain had plenty of time on his hands for a little light reading.

Kohli was spotted reading 'Detox Your Ego: Seven Easy Steps to Achieving Freedom, Happiness and Success in Your Life' by Steven Sylvester, much to the amusement of India’s netizens who have long trolled Kohli for his arrogance.

Peppered with sports anecdotes, the book helps readers understand their underlying motivations and anxieties and improve the way they achieve their goals.

(Image: Twitter/DetoxYourEgo)

'Autobiography of a Yogi' by Paramahansa Yogananda

A few years, Kohli made headlines when he recommended that fans and followers read a book that had made a huge difference to his life - ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ by Paramahansa Yogananda.

“I love this book. A must read for all those who are brave enough to let their thoughts and ideologies be challenged. The understanding and implementation of the knowledge in this book will change your whole perspective and life. Believe in the divine and keep marching on doing good deeds #onelove #begratefu l#helponeanother.” He said, recommending the book on social media.

Regarded as a spiritual classic, ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ traces the life of Paramahamsa Yogananda and his encounters with spiritual figures in the East and West.

It was the only e-book found on the Apple co-founder Steve Jobs's personal iPad 2. Jobs had first read the book in high-school and discovered it again while staying at a guesthouse in India. The book became a major part of Job’s life and he is said to have reread it every year.

(Image: Twitter/imVkohli)

'Open' By Andre Agassi

In the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup, as part of a joint initiative by the ICC and 'Room to Read' to promote global literacy and access to books, Kohli revealed another favourite tome on his reading list.

“I like Andre Agassi’s autobiography. The author tells the story of his remarkable career, which featured many ups and downs. The best part about the book is that at no point does the author try to project himself as a ‘superhuman’. He is as human as you and me, but a champion and an inspiration,” said Kohli.

1 Comment on this Story

Cannot dream355 days ago

India the perfect country for hero worship everyone else in the 1.4 billion will be crushed. India is going to be the most populated and polluted country in the world by 2025 surpassing China. If you still want to live in India unless you are Virat Kohli and dream big you will be crushed. Hope he writes a book on how to dream big so others know.

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

The Indian skipper turns 31 today.

Related