From Classroom to Cricket Legend: Virat Kohli

Some two odd decades ago a tiny boy with wide eyes and a captivating smile entered the gates of Vishal Bharti Public School, Paschim Vihar following his elder siblings Vikas Kohli and Bhawna Kohli, It was none other than the young Virat Kohli …The ace Indian Cricketer.

He could win just any heart with his bright sparkling eyes, his smile and his wit. As he grew and blossomed at Vishal Bharti Public School he developed a huge inclination towards sports especially cricket, yet he scored fantastically in his exams. Science and Math being his favorite subjects so says his science and math teachers.

The music teacher of the school Ms. Sadhna Sohal recollects Virat as an attractive child with chubby cheeks who was fond of humming bollywood numbers. His class one teacher Ms. Hena Bhattacharya recollects that Virat was a very bright and determined child right then he got admission in my class. His eyes were very expressive. Virat was an active participant in all the school activities, he was an enthusiastic and eager participant of all the interhouse activities, remonetises his class eight class teacher Ms. Vibha Sachdev.

“Ma'am, I will be the next Sachin Tendulkar of Indian Team” was the oft repeated quote, yes at that time sometimes it made us smile at the sheer grit and confidence of the wide eyed boy.

Virat always scored well in his exams. He was an above average performer and the only time he would lose a few marks was when his practices took his time away. ‘I prepared for my exam late after I came back from my practices.”Was something that we used to hear very frequently from him. He worked very hard to excel in both sports and academics and the teachers at Vishal Bharti Public School, Paschim Vihar fully understood his struggle and cooperated with him by giving him added guidance.

His classmates at of Vishal Bharti remember Virat as a fun loving boy who would do what he decided to do come hail, snow or storm.

When we watch Virat play on the field today with guts and grit we are immediately able to connect with that hardworking, resolute boy who would prepare for his exams after a day of rigorous cricket practice and who frequently said “Ma'am, I will be the next Sachin Tendulkar of Indian Team.”

We believed him then and we believe him now.