The former captain returns to the national team after taking a month off from cricket.
India batting talisman Virat Kohli says a recent running drought had affected his well-being and he had been faking intensity to pretend everything was fine.
One of the best batsmen in the world, in his prime, the former India captain has endured an extended run and has failed to record an international century since scoring his 70th in a Test match in November 2019.
After a month off, during which he skipped India’s white-ball tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe, Kohli will be back in action at the Asian Cup and is likely to be part of the team that faces Pakistan on Sunday.
“For the first time in 10 years I haven’t touched a bat in a month,” Kohli told Star Sports. “I realized I was trying to fake my intensity a little bit recently. You’re convincing yourself: ‘No, I have the intensity.’ But your body is telling you to stop. Your mind is telling you to take a break and back up.”
Kohli, who built a reputation for “in your face” aggression and exemplary batting, led India to the top of the Test rankings.
“Nowadays, you can get carried away with so many demands, especially when schedules pile up over and over again,” Kohli said. “They see me as a mentally very strong guy, and I am. But everyone has a limit, and you have to recognize that limit, otherwise things can get unhealthy for you.
“I am not shy to admit that I felt mentally depressed. This is a very normal thing to feel, but we don’t talk… we don’t want to be seen as mentally weak.”
Kohli recently became part of a select group of players, including England captain Ben Stokes, who has spoken out about struggles with mental health.
“It is not abnormal. Talk about it and argue with people. We do not speak because we doubt.
“Trust me, pretending to be strong is much worse and that’s something I don’t feel ashamed about, I felt mentally weak.”
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